Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The safeguarding of environment and natural habitats is a hugely important issue. The Government is conscious of fulfilling our statutory obligations in this regard, as well as being committed to the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. As set out in the strategy for the future development of the national, regional greenways, greenway routes require environmental assessment in their planning and design and are constructed in compliance with the requirements of Irish and European law, including but not limited to, EU Directive 2014/52/EU. As the approving authority under the public spending code, TII is responsible for funding the planning, design and construction of greenways. TII requires that TII funded greenway projects are delivered in accordance with its project management guidelines.

Phase 3, the design and environmental evaluation of an eight stage process of the project manual for greenway projects, PMG, ensures that projects are carried out in compliance with all appropriate environmental directives and legislation. The form of statutory process may include, but is not limited to the following; local authority own Part 8 Development Section 177 AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and appropriate assessment and environmental impact assessment. Projects are assessed for environmental impacts and any necessary ameliorative changes are incorporated into the scheme and design for a greenway.The relevant local authority will conduct the appropriate assessment screening and environmental impact assessments as required.

In relation to the Senator’s specific query regarding the proposed development of the greenway in Maree, Oranmore, County Galway, I have been provided with the following summary. Some sections of the route in the Maree area near Kilcaimin Bay are constrained due to the existing limited cross-section of the terrain. The section of the route near Maree, Oranmore, can be viewed on route drawings which are available to view and download on the Galway to Athlone cycleway website. The scheme will incorporate a cantilevered boardwalk over Kilcaimin Bay in the Maree area which will provide the adequate width for a segregated greenway while maintaining the existing roadway. The cantilevered boardwalk will be designed in such a manner as to minimise potential environmental impacts on Kilcaimin Bay.

As part of the design and environmental evaluation phase, the entirety of the Galway to Athlone national greenway, including the section of the route near Maree, Oranmore, will be assessed from an environmental point of view. An appropriate assessment report, a Natura 2000 impact statement and a full environmental impact assessment report will be prepared. This will include extensive engagement with relevant stakeholders including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. These documents will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála as part of a future planning application and it will be for An Bord Pleanála to decide whether the proposed development is in compliance with all appropriate environmental directives and legislation. The Department of Transport is satisfied that this process ensures, first, that any potential environmental impacts are identified early by these rigorous requirements and, second, that any impact that is identified is eliminated or mitigated by design amendments.