Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will consider ways to offer incentives and compensation to farmers for any loss or inconvenience caused by allowing greenways or walkways through their lands, in view of the societal and economic potential that such infrastructure may bring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36639/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The development of greenways in Ireland is a relatively new phenomena but support for this type of infrastructure has gained considerable traction in recent years particularly with the success of projects like the Great Western Greenway.

To date, the majority of greenways or trails have been established on a 'permissive access' basis.  This means that the landowner - either private or public - gives permission for the greenway to pass over their property.  Permissive access does not infer that a route becomes a right of way and a landowner always has the right to withdraw permission, subject to reasonable notice.  Where permission is granted, local authorities seek to minimise inconvenience to landowners and will carry out accommodation works along the route, as necessary, in consultation with those affected.  The permissive access model is a worthy mechanism for certain projects, particularly at local level and it is often the landowners themselves that become the champions for these projects. 

My Department also supports the use of publicly owned land for greenway development but this option, while affordable, is not always available or suitable.

In the case of large scale investment on national cycling infrastructure projects, like the Dublin to Galway Greenway, I accept that it would be unrealistic to rely on permissive access agreements where such agreements can be withdrawn at any time without any recourse to the State.

In short, I fully support the need to compensate landowners where the scale of the project is likely to derive significant social and economic benefits to the State.  Such compensation could be through the 'purchase by agreement' model or by Compulsory Purchase Order.  However, it is a matter for infrastructure developers, usually local authorities, to determine the best course of action for each project depending on its scale and objectives.