John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have to bring the Minister to some of the urban areas. Last year, South Dublin County Council ran what one might describe as a participatory budget competition whereby the local communities were able to promote ideas and vote on them. One of the issues they voted on and where they recommended that money be spent involved the restoration of what is called the Silver Bridge. It is also known as Guinness Bridge or Farmleigh Bridge. It crosses the Liffey from Waterstown Park in Palmerstown to Farmleigh. It joins the two parks - Phoenix Park and Waterstown Park. It has huge potential. The funding that is available for that involves a feasibility study relating to restoring the bridge, connecting the two parks and developing a greenway and facility along the Liffey. I would hope that projects like that would be considered in terms of this scheme. While it is right in the heart of Dublin, it addresses the issue of tourism and the greater issue of healthy living and exercise. I hope projects like that would be considered in the same way as rural projects.

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