Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will raise the issue of the south Kerry greenway, which I am sure is an issue close to the Cathaoirleach's heart. The reason I raise it is to welcome yesterday's High Court decision decreeing that the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála to Kerry County Council is valid and upholding the council's decision. It is important because this was viewed as a test case for greenways throughout the country. Some magnificent sections of greenway have been built in Connemara as part of the Connemara greenway. Sections have been built between Recess and Clifden, but we want to see the greenway completed as far as Oughterard and from there into Galway city. Greenways were initially viewed as being only for tours. While they clearly will be used for that, and will be very important in regenerating parts of rural Ireland, they are also being used by local people for exercise. Indeed, we have a vision for the greenway between Oughterard, Roscahill and Moycullen, through Bushy Park and into Galway city, to be used for commuting, because it will go through the grounds of the National University of Ireland, Galway and will be in close proximity to the hospital in Galway, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, businesses and industries. There is great potential for commuting along that section of the greenway once it is constructed. It is a case of when it is constructed between Oughterard, Roscahill, Moycullen and Galway city.

The issue that has stalled and stymied development of greenways is access to lands to allow the completion of environmental reports and to lodge planning applications. That is why the decision of Kerry County Council to pursue a compulsory purchase order, CPO, on lands in Kerry and to get validation in the courts has been hugely important as a test case for greenway development on private lands throughout the country. Heretofore, projects in County Mayo and elsewhere have been successful to a point but we need certainty on the issue of land. We want to see completion of the greenway from Recess to Clifden in Connemara and the buildout of the remaining section. This is a hugely important issue for regional Ireland and, therefore, I welcome the validation by the High Court yesterday. I hope that Galway County Council can now power on with the planning application in Connemara to build a world-class greenway to allow tourists, locals and commuters into the heart of Galway city. I welcome yesterday's decision. I want to see county councils in Galway and elsewhere move on with developing and rolling out greenways, lodging their planning applications, completing their environmental reports and providing something for which there is significant popular support in the community.