Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are making Ballinasloe shine for the cycleway. It is the newest town in Ireland and we are ready to welcome the Dublin to Galway cycleway. There has been multimillion euro investment in our town. We had an incredible paint scheme. Many businesses participated. This Sunday, our incredible Christmas lights will illuminate the town. Many will visit to admire how well our town looks. There are luxury hotels and fine restaurants to tempt those on the cycleway on weekend breaks to explore our region of unique landscapes, through the beauty of the bogland, the flowers and wildlife. They are protected by European law. We have migratory birds along the callows of the River Suck and remote Grand Canal towpaths.

Ballinasloe, which is at the crossing of a river and is a gateway to the west, has the majesty of the blueway of the River Suck, the marina linking to Shannonbridge, the ancient walkways of the Hymany way part of the Beire Breifne way and greenways. There are many activities for families. There are world-class recreational sports, swimming pools, running tracks and tennis courts. Ballinasloe has a criss-cross of networks. There are waterways, railways and motorways. There is now a cycleway. It is at the heart of the connection. The hidden heartlands is made up of towns linked by a common love of what makes us strong, which is our communities and families. We are open to showing all we have to offer in heritage and history. A decision on the cycleway is due at the start of December. The project team is going through the peer review process on route selection. There have been thousands of submissions. Hundreds have attended information webinars. There are signs all over the town supporting the cycleway by consensus with landowners. East Galway is welcoming and Ballinasloe is ready to welcome the cycleway.