Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning, we heard funding announced by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in respect of outdoor recreation feasibility grants. That is really crucial for developing projects in rural areas over the next number of years. More than €100,000 has been allocated for two projects in Roscommon - in Castlerea and Athleague - to build a boardwalk in Castlerea that will connect with the demesne there. In Athleague we are looking at a project to deliver a walkway to connect with the Suck Valley Way. In Galway, there is close to €150,000 for three projects, one of which is in Ballinasloe on the location of a landfill. Over 20 years ago, the families in Ballinasloe fought so hard and went to the High Court to have the rubbish that was being dumped in a bog without proper facilities in place. They fought that, and over six years the facility was halted. As part of the High Court order, it was indicated very clearly that funds for Galway County Council needed to be used to create a recreational amenity for the people of Ballinasloe town. Today, outdoor recreational funding of close to €50,000 has been allocated to allow feasibility and a survey to be done to turn what was a landfill, a place that took rubbish and waste, domestic, industrial and commercial, into something that the local community can use. That is a phenomenal thing to say because we do not have a part in Ballinasloe. We have a school that has a wooded area, Garbally College and thankfully the trustees, principal and staff allow the public of Ballinasloe to use that area. We do not have parks as such. We need this, we need the Dublin to Galway cycle way to come into Ballinasloe. These are projects that are going to deliver for our local area.