Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Cathaoirleach has selected this matter and that the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, is here to take the Commencement matter. When I was mayor of Kildare, I had the opportunity to launch the consultation on the proposed blueway and how that would have an impact on Kildare. I have taken a keen interest ever since in the development of the blueway and how people are perceiving and using it.

On one of my own regular walkabouts to see what is happening, I was in Rathangan on Friday with Councillor Anne Connolly at the lovely Spencer Bridge. I am glad to say the bridge got funding today to ensure the upkeep of the structure in a proactive manner. Spencer Bridge dates back to 1784. It is on the edge of my home village of Rathangan. That is a beautiful part of Kildare and it is an area of beauty, history and great meaning to local people. The reason I was there on Friday was to see the work going on. Waterways Ireland happened to be there doing work to make sure that the towpath on one side would be ready over the next few months. I believe there will be a tender quite soon with regard to a pedestrian bridge that will go on the other side of Spencer Bridge, to enable people to cross safely from one side to the other.

The work is progressing well and I cannot overstate the importance of this project to the local economy in south Kildare. The Barrow blueway has been identified as a key project. The focus I am talking about is the Barrow line, that is, the canal spur off the Grand Canal. It is 46 km from Lowtown, which is beside Robertstown, right through Kildare, parts of Laois and into Athy. We hope that it will go on to Carlow in the near future. The towns of Robertstown, Rathangan, Monasterevin, Vicarstown and Athy will certainly have great potential to develop businesses. This is a crucial rural area of south Kildare that struggles to attract the amount of tourism it deserves. That is why I fought hard, along with Councillors Connolly and Fitzpatrick, to ensure that the project is advanced.

For those who are familiar with the walk from Lowtown to Glenaree, going on to Rathangan, through Ummeras and into Monasterevin, it is absolutely beautiful. The one thing I will say is that it needs more signage. People who are walking the blueway also need to know the number of kilometres to the next destination. New businesses have started up, such as Dilly Dally, a lovely café between Monasterevin and Athy. Everybody sings its praises and speaks of the lovely, warm welcome they get.

A fully finished and maintained blueway will open this up to new markets and opportunities. People may use it for recreation, sport, cycling, walking, jogging and so on. In 2020, Fáilte Ireland research showed that domestic trips were mainly focused on the outdoors.It also identified that 87% of Irish people are considering a short break in Ireland within the next 12 months. We want to attract them to Kildare to use the blueway. In a survey of local businesses, as part of the Kildare LEADER research paper, two thirds of local businesses surveyed had an element of tourism provision in their businesses but only 20% could sustain this year-round business. That is a real opportunity for us. The past few years have been difficult with Covid-19 but the number of people who went out and explored their areas, including the blueway and greenway, was fantastic. I have laid out the case for the project clearly, including its strategic and economic value. I know the Minister of State understands it. I hope he has an update for us today, will reassure those businesses and the leisure walkers, that this will be delivered soon and that he will provide a key timeline.