Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted it was announced. As chair of the County Longford tourism committee, I have supported the Mid Shannon Wilderness Park for years and will continue to do so. However, we may need further funding to complete the project. I thank Longford County Council, our regeneration team and in particular, Donall Mac An Bheatha, who has driven this project for a long number of years. I am delighted this funding has come through. The just transition commissioner Kieran Mulvey asked the ESB to provide €500,000 each to Lanesborough and Shannonbridge to develop community facilities. I ask the Minister to contact the ESB to make sure this funding is delivered on. I support the comments of Senator Murphy regarding the low number of former Bord na Móna employees who have been re-employed.

The Access for All project to bring people of all abilities on trips on the Shannon and Lough Ree has received funding from the just transition fund in 2020. However, over the past 12 months, costs have increased by up to 25% on what was granted to deliver that project. Could the Minister visit Longford before the recess and look at these projects? They just need a bit more support.

I will touch on the road network. If the Minister comes to Longford, he will see at first hand the need to continue the N4 project from Mullingar to Roosky. It is back in the consultation stage to identify an emerging preferred route, which I hope will be similar to the original preferred route, which has seen no development over the past 12 months.

Covid has made us more appreciative of our outdoors with the numbers engaged in walking, cycling, canoeing, etc., increasing. Luckily, significant investment to develop these facilities has been allocated, particularly in the past by the former Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, and the current Minister through the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme but there has been increased funding at the insistence of the Minister and his colleagues in the Green Party with regard to active travel and safe routes to school, which are necessary. This must be welcomed so on behalf of those who have received funding, particularly the two schools in Longford who received in the past week, I thank the Minister. We look forward to continued investment in this much-needed and welcome project.