Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter on the Adjournment. As this is my first opportunity to formally do so, I congratulate her on being appointed as a Minister of State and wish her the best of luck in her portfolio. I know she will do a great job, as she has been doing since her appointment.

I have been contacted by a number of farmers in Galway East who are concerned about the status of their land in light of the announcement of the Dublin to Galway greenway. There is no doubt that this greenway will be a welcome addition to east Galway and its landscape but when completed I believe it will bring a large number of tourists to the area as greenways have done across the country. It will help revive the towns along this route, which is very important to the businesses and the communities in Galway East. It will create many jobs in local economies around Loughrea and adjoining areas. However, there is a genuine fear of the compulsory purchase order, CPO, process and its potential to impact detrimentally on the constitution of farmers' lands. The powers associated with CPOs have always been used with regard to the construction of public utilities including canals and railways in the past and while the use of compulsory purchase orders is a wide-ranging process, they are often seen as draconian in nature. However, it would be very difficult to progress any national infrastructural projects without them. The Minister of State might clarify the position with County Galway and inform me if it is expected that CPOs will be required to progress a greenway.