Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I visited the west on three occasions with my family in order to visit the Great Western Greenway. It is such an attractive amenity and it is important that we should try to replicate it to the greatest degree possible throughout the State. The business case for the Boyne Valley greenway has already been made. It is just a matter of making the investment and reaping the return. I understand that finances are tight. For that reason, I am of the view that we must adopt a different strategy in respect of the development of projects of this nature. I am not suggesting that we should build a Gucci-style pathway along the route of the River Boyne. Hikers want permission to walk.

They want firm ground underfoot and perhaps a bridge or two to enable them to ford streams. They also want safety from animals.

In the coming months, the community group in which I am involved, the Gleann na Bóinne Greenway Development Group, will seek permission from landowners for walkers to enter their lands. This initiative may allow the Boyne greenway to be opened within two or three years, with a low level of investment and at low risk to the Government. If we have people walking the greenway with only minimal investment, we will prove there is demand and ensure that an upgrade of the route at a later date will be viewed as a profitable proposition by the Government.

One of the reasons the Minister should prioritise this project is the proposal to have a spur to trim from the Dublin to Galway greenway which is being developed by the National Roads Authority along the Royal Canal. Such a spur could easily traverse the southern reaches of the River Boyne, thereby fulfilling the objectives set for the Boyne Valley and Dublin to Galway greenways. Clearly, therefore, joined-up thinking is needed and this will require a stamp of priority from the Minister of State.

Next Monday, I will meet some of the key stakeholders to discuss the need to prioritise this project and engage in joined-up thinking. I ask the Minister of State to attend this meeting or, failing that, to have a senior member of his staff attend and give the meeting his imprimatur. This will be key if we are to reduce the timescale for the project from 20 years in order that it will benefit the current generation.

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