Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope the group to which the Deputy refers will submit an application under the national cycle network scheme. Meath County Council has until 15 November to forward submissions under the scheme.

As the Deputy correctly noted, certain areas are not having the same success as the west in developing greenways. The most important stakeholder is the farming community. If it does not play ball with the country councils or other authorities involved, it creates a problem. Much of the greenway infrastructure in the west was established at very low cost. I thank farmers for their co-operation in this matter. While some of them will have received small benefits-in-kind, for example, having walls repaired and so forth, none of them received payment for accommodating the greenways. Notwithstanding their safety concerns arising from people using their land, they chose to play their part.

The Government is committed to greenways because we have seen the success of the greenway in County Mayo. A further 200,000 people will walk or cycle the greenway before the end of the year. The numbers are being monitored daily to produce statistics on those using the facility. The Mayo greenway has been a major success. Much of the money allocated for capital projects elsewhere in the country did not deliver a sufficient rate of return, whereas the small investment in the Mayo greenway delivered a significant return.

While I would welcome as decision by the National Roads Authority to develop a spur from the Dublin-Galway greenway into the Deputy's area, that is a matter for Meath County Council as it would need to submit an application. Any such application would receive the full support of my Department. My officials are not in a position to attend every meeting or meet every group. A professional team will assess applications and deliver its judgment. My Department is committed to funding projects of this nature in future.

Activity tourism is one of our greatest success stories. We have the necessary infrastructure in place as we do not have to buy the wind or countryside. We should utilise and sell our natural resources. Those engaged in activity tourism spend more money than any other type of tourist.

My Department will not be able to support every greenway scheme but it wants to develop as many greenways as possible. A mechanism is in place to make applications for funding.

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