Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Some €63 million has been allocated by my Department to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, this year for the delivery of its greenway programme. Of this, €4.65 million has been allocated to Galway County Council and €790,000 to Sligo County Council for greenway projects under their remit.

Two TII-funded greenways are currently being progressed between Athenry and Collooney. Some €400,000 has been allocated this year for the progression of the Charlestown/Bellahy-to-Collooney section of the Sligo greenway through phase 1, that is concept and feasibility, and phase 2, that is, options selection, of the TII project management guidelines.

In addition, €300,000 has been allocated to appoint consultants to progress the Athenry and Milltown greenway through phase 2 - options selection. The options selection process for both projects will have due regard to all options considered reasonable between Charlestown-Bellahy and Collooney and between Athenry and Milltown, and will also have regard to the outcome of the strategic rail review, in particular, the proposals for the potential reopening of the western rail corridor.

As the Deputy will be aware, the strategic rail review is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades. The review is at an advanced stage.

Publication of the final report will follow after it has been considered and approved at ministerial level here and in Northern Ireland. Any affected potential greenways will be given due consideration. It should be noted that in some instances it may be feasible to run a greenway alongside a rail line. Whilst this may be more costly, if an economic case is made it may allow for the provision of both services.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, nothing will be done which threatens or undermines the ability for us to reopen a rail line. We will look at a variety of different options, such as running alongside. Nothing will be done which would rule out the rail option in what we do on the greenway.

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