Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. As I said in the reply the information provided to me by the Department of Transport is that contractors will be appointed for both phases of the scheme in the fourth quarter of 2024. Beyond that, I do not have information about the other stages of the project or what its likely completion date is. Projects around the country have been completed in Waterford, Mayo, Kerry and so forth throughout the country. There is a good bank of experience in the delivery of greenway projects. Infrastructure projects that are unusual or a once-off are the ones that are most likely to take longer than expected or to be open-ended. I expect that this fits into a standard pattern.

The Senator said that engagement is crucial. Of course, it is. Without public support, good engagement, compromise or listening to people, the project runs the risk of halting altogether. That is absolutely critical to the project.

The project will be more than just a tourism project. It will be useful for local people, not just for their leisure but also in a practical way to travel between different places. I look at the other end of the Royal Canal as it passes through places like Enfield and Maynooth and I see children going to school and college on it every day. I also see the locals using for walking and cycling. It is a public amenity that is very clearly in great demand in Ballinasloe, Portumna and other places along that route. I will speak to the Minister for Transport to ask him if he has any better details on its likely completion date.