Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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535. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the N59 Greenway project to run along the Galway Clifden railway. [48387/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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As I understand, Galway County Council are currently involved in the planning and preparation of the Galway to Clifden greenway with the ultimate aim of extending this route from Clifden to Leenane and eventually linking up with the cycle network as it extends from South Mayo.  In 2013, my Department allocated €25,000 to the Council under an National Cycle Network (NCN) seed finance scheme to complete the detailed design of a cycleway from Clifden to Oughterard, which runs along the old western rail line from Clifden to Galway.

More generally, in the context of greenway development, my Department recently announced the provision of €6.5 million under a second round of funding associated with the multi-annual NCN Programme for the years 2014 to 2016.  The funding will be allocated to local authorities through a competitive process.  The deadline for receipt of applications is this Friday, 15 November.  It is hoped that, over this period, 2 to 3 projects or phases of projects can be funded from the allocation.  However, it is a matter for the relevant local authority to progress and, if funding is required, submit proposals to this Department.

I look forward to receiving exciting greenway proposals from all local authorities, including Galway County Council, by the end of this week and it is hoped that to announce successful projects by end 2013/early 2014.