Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----the Deputy can anticipate that there will very shortly be information on the greenways. A total of 22 applications were received from 15 local authorities on the greenway strategy, including applications from the north west and Border counties. There were three applications from County Donegal, one from County Mayo, one for the Sligo greenway, one from Leitrim County Council for the Sligo, Leitrim and northern counties railway greenway and one from Louth County Council for a Dundalk-Blackrock greenway. There was also an application from Meath County Council for a greenway that terminates in Kingscourt, County Cavan, of which the Deputy may be aware.

The Government takes the points made by the Deputy about the north west very seriously. I understand that he pointed out that some of the numbers are down. We are very conscious of that and are particularly conscious of the difficulties presented to his area by Brexit. It should be pointed out that in addition to making commitments to the greenways, we have invested a significant amount of capital in the north west and Border counties, including large grant schemes and further opportunities for Fáilte Ireland capital support. I do not know whether the Deputy needs reminding of examples of Fáilte Ireland capital investment in the north west and Border counties. In County Donegal, the Fanad Head lighthouse experience received €469,000 and €396,000 was allocated to visitor facilities at Malin Head. In Country Sligo, the Strandhill surfing centre of excellence received more than €1 million, the Carrowmore Neolithic sites was allocated €262,000 and a grant of €201,000 was made in respect of the Sligo pontoon. In County Leitrim, €212,250 was allocated for Lough Rynn and €162,750 was granted in respect of Glencar lake and waterfall. Although the Deputy probably has legitimate cause for making his case, which he makes very strongly and well, particularly in the context of Brexit, it is important that the message does not go out that we somehow have a blind spot for the north west - we do not.

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