Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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424. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the economic impact of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21230/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The 48km Great Western Greenway was delivered at a cost of €5,568,000 million and was completed in 2011.  The sources of funding for this investment are set out as follows.

I would direct the Deputy to the Great Western Greenway Economic Impact Case Study undertaken on behalf of Fáilte Ireland for details on the economic impact to the local economy of this Greenway.  The Study found that major benefits are being obtained from the Greenway, most obviously through maintaining and creating employment.  The Greenway has created considerable demand along the route for a variety of services including accommodation, bike hire, taxi services, tour operators, local shops, bars and restaurants.  In terms of putting a monetary value on visits to the route, estimates derived from the Study suggest that all direct expenditure arising from visitors attracted to the Greenway would contribute approximately €7.2m to the local economy in a full year.