James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government at page 45 references the development of a nationwide greenway network, to which we have already heard reference today. We are well aware of the benefits of tourism, leisure and recreation to local communities. While the Wild Atlantic Way is rightly hailed as highly successful, we cannot forget about Ireland's Ancient East. In particular, I am concerned with the greenways in Kildare, in particular the stretch from Naas, Sallins, Ardclough and on into Dublin city. This is a project that was hailed four to five years ago but it has yet to advance. There seems to be interminable interagency dialogue between the National Transport Authority, NTA, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the county council to an extent and Waterways Ireland, but it has not progressed. I was recently told in correspondence that the Grand Canal was not a priority. Could the office of the Taoiseach or the Government inject some impetus into this project and get the agencies to engage with each other and advance this project, which is very important for tourism and recreation in County Kildare?

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