Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise again the issue of the proposed greenway between Galway and Dublin, particularly the proposals concerning the route from Loughrea, Craughwell, Clarinbridge and Oranmore into Galway city. Following discussions between the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, myself and a number of other Oireachtas Members, he instructed his Department to engage in further consultation on the matter, and it has now done this. The local authorities wrote to those landowners who are directly affected last week. While the authorities have said that they are flexible in the route chosen, I sincerely hope that proves to be the case. We are told that they have no interest in bisecting people's fields and that they are willing to look at going around areas that are going to cause farmers difficulty, and that is very much to be welcomed. However, there are towns where the proposed greenway has to dock, and these areas would require particular sensitivity. I urge all landowners in the area to engage with the local authorities and the National Roads Authority, which will shortly begin the consultation process. This greenway would have very significant benefits for the areas concerned in terms of tourism, but it must be planned in a sensitive manner.