Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is great that the Minister of State is present, because he is a man who understands the issues of the west of Ireland. I wish to discuss the proposed greenway from Dublin to Galway. There is no issue with the Dublin to Athlone portion, but there is a problem with the stretch from Athlone to Galway. There is a rumour - which appears to have some foundation - that has angered landowners, many of whom are farmers. The rumour is that lands could be acquired by compulsory purchase order, CPO, if necessary. My proposal is that the only way to move on this project is by agreement with the landowners. Perhaps the Minister would outline the anticipated procedure, including the appeals process, for acquiring the lands.

The backdrop to this is that approximately a month ago 12 local landowners in Maree, Oranmore, where I live, and in the general area of Clarinbridge contacted me to say they had received a letter from the NRA stating that a proposed route for the greenway goes through their lands. I was a little dismayed that I, as a local public representative, did not receive a letter on the same matter. There was a lack of information in respect of informing local public representatives. However, we have moved on from that.

I attended a meeting in the Loughrea Hotel & Spa last week. Approximately 250 landowners were present and probably 99% of them were farmers, but to a man and a woman there was 100% disagreement with the acquisition of lands by CPO. The general view was that this greenway is a great idea in principle, but if it is to work in practice, lands must be acquired by agreement with landowners. Second, where possible, public lands should be used. I have met with representatives of both the NRA and local farmers. I am working in the Maree, Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Roscam area to reach agreement on this project and to move it on by helping to work out a route that is agreeable to everybody. The 250 landowners are all opposed to it unless it is done by agreement. That is a considerable number. The project will never get off the ground unless there is goodwill. One can understand the use of CPOs for critical infrastructure such as the M6, and even that was difficult. This, however, is what I would classify as desirable infrastructure. We will not die if we do not get a greenway. We are aware that it would bring tourism benefits and that tourism spreads money across the economy, but the only way to proceed is by agreement with the landowners. It is great in principle, but it must work in practice.

Farmers and people in rural areas are annoyed because they feel they have been walked on. As they said, the rural schools have been hit and there has been a flat domestic economy, so they wonder why this is now being imposed on them. Let us not scupper what is potentially a great project by angering farmers. There are practical issues involved. I do not know if the Minister will be able to address them in his response, but he is a sensible man and he would understand them. What about insurance and liability? The first thing the NRA mentioned to the Galway farmers, which was stupid beyond measure, was that it had surveyed German tourists and found that they wanted this greenway. It could have said it had surveyed European tourists and found that they were interested in cycling and that a greenway would be a way of attracting tourists. I am aware of the popularity of the greenway from Achill to Westport. That is wonderful, because it utilised a disused rail line.