Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Transport for being in the Chamber for this debate. I welcome the significant funding that was granted last week for greenway projects throughout the country and, in particular - being parochial about it - the fantastic funding given for my own constituency of Kerry. It is good that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is also here. The funding is very much appreciated and builds on work in recent years to get the network going in north Kerry, between Tralee and Fenit and between the Limerick border and Listowel. Funding was also allocated for the south Kerry greenway. On Thursday, we saw the fantastic decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for that project to proceed. We hope it will now go ahead, after many years of planning, design, hearings and everything else.

I have no doubt that it is going to be a world-class, iconic greenway.

This is going to be extraordinarily special. It is a 32 km route from Glenbeigh to Reenard, which overlooks Valentia Island. It follows part of the Farranfore to Valentia Harbour railway line which initially opened in 1885, when it reached as far as Killorglin, before being extended to its full length in 1893. It ran until 30 January 1960. The line has now been closed for almost as long as it was open. I hope the great renaissance this greenway represents will be symbolic of a great future for that part of Iveragh and of Kerry. From where I live on the Dingle Peninsula, I can look across to Castlemaine Harbour and Dingle Bay, where the railway line used to run. The scenery is beautiful and outstanding. There are a number of outstanding features along the line such as way covers and brilliant viaducts, including the one at Gleesk in Kells and the one over the water in Cahersiveen. There are also wonderful tunnels that weave in and out of the mountainside overlooking Dingle Bay. It really will be world class.

We have now completed the phase involving An Bord Pleanála. I hope there will be no further reviews of the project or any judicial reviews sought. I call on everybody to unite behind this project for the greater good. The next challenge will be to find the funding to complete the project. More than €5 million of Government funding has already been committed, comprising more than €4 million in 2014 and the further €1.4 million which was announced last week and which is most welcome. Approximately €15 million more will be required to ensure the project is completed. With regard to the timeline, if that funding is provided very soon, the project could be fully completed by the end of 2022. That would be very welcome because this area of south Kerry really needs help.

When the railway line was completed back in the 1890s, it was a massive economic catalyst for the area. In a similar way, this greenway will be a great economic catalyst for that part of Kerry. I am not overstating the case when I say that it will be world class and iconic. It will be extraordinarily special. There does not seem to be funding available immediately for this particular project, however. It is so special that it requires a response and specific funding from Government as a one-off. It is that unique and world class. I ask the Minister to do everything he can to ensure the funding is provided as soon as possible so that the project can begin as soon as possible, and with it, the recovery in that part of south Kerry.

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