Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Greenways Provision

10:30 am

Photo of John McGahonJohn McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today I want to talk the concept of greenways and blueways and I want to start by referencing to the Waterford greenway. We all know the Waterford greenway, which has become a destination greenway. People go to Waterford, stay there and utilise the greenway. I want to talk about how we can replicate that and create a destination greenway in County Louth. I want to give some of the context to greenways in County Louth.

County Louth has been ahead of its time in developing greenways. I will not use the word like “trendy”, but they have become popular in the last couple of years. County Louth was developing the Carlingford to Omeath greenway in 2011, 2012 and 2013. It was quite ahead of its time in terms of the local authority trying to prepare that. The current state of greenways in County Louth is we have a greenway stretching from Carlingford to Omeath. We are currently in the process of building one from Omeath to the Northern Irish Border.

On the other side, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is building a greenway from Newry to Victoria Lock to meet our greenway at the Border. That is a good example of cross-Border co-operation. We have seen many small indigenous companies spring up around greenways. That is why they are so good. They bring business to an area because they obviously bring people to an area. These are businesses like those providing electric scooters. In Carlingford, for example, companies have sprung up that provide day packages and picnics for anyone who wants to go on the greenway.

That is the context of greenways in County Louth. What is the long-term vision? My long-term vision is twofold. I would love to see the concept of Louth coastal greenway. Louth is so well placed in terms of its geographical area. We are an hour north of Dublin and an hour south of Belfast. Approximately 2 million people live in this region between Dublin and Belfast on the island of Ireland. We are so well positioned in terms of such short trip to make a real business case for something like this.

My goal and long-term vision is to see that coastal greenway stretching from Drogheda right up the coastline with a wonderful view of Dundalk Bay, the Mourne Mountains in County Down, the Cooley Mountains in north Louth, stretching through Blackrock, Dundalk and on out to Carlingford.

Naturally, this is a big project and big vision. Louth County Council is focused on trying to get patchworks of the greenway together. What can Government do to try to help local authorities with that and to find out what about the big picture here? It is a ten to 15-year project. There is no point saying that it will be magicked up anytime soon. How does Government help with the strategy?

I grew up playing on the Navy bank walkway in Dundalk. It is one of the most idyllic walks in Dundalk. However, it leads to a dead end. The big, long-term goal there is to connect that up with some sort of a greenway walkway from the Navy bank in Dundalk to Blackrock, which is a picturesque village outside of the town.

One of the reasons we cannot apply for funding for the greenway yet is that huge amounts of money are required for CFRAM studies. We have to reinforce the sea barriers between Dundalk and Blackrock. Until those CFRAM studies are complete and the sea barriers are built, we cannot put in for planning permission for a greenway. It is a chicken and egg scenario. Until that is done, we cannot get permission for a greenway along there.

This could be huge. We could have our whole country connected by greenways. We are doing that and Louth is a place to start.

I raise the concept of blueways. In County Louth, we have the River Glyde and the River Fane. These are underutilised aspects of tourism. We are only starting to realise the benefit of it now. I would love to know the Government’s strategy to encourage local authorities to promote and to get blueways going.

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