Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport given that Roscommon County Council has secured an acceptable route for the greenway between Athlone and Ballinasloe by taking the approach that I had suggested to the Minister in Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 17 June 2015, if he will now request Fáilte Ireland, the National Roads Authority and Galway County Council to map a route between Ballinasloe and Galway, by utilising publicly owned lands and the existing rights of way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32613/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​I am currently awaiting a report from the National Roads Authority and Galway County Council on the feasibility of the current preferred route and I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the consultation that has taken place. The design teams have at all times been trying to avail of publicly owned land to create a product that is segregated, safe and scenic. It was possible in Roscommon to avail of Coillte and Bord na Mona lands. However, even with that, 40% is through privately owned lands.  The design team in Galway have been working to exactly the same objectives and directions as the team in Roscommon. The facts are that there are no publicly owned lands within the corridor that connects the towns and villages of Ballinasloe, Aughrim, Kilreekil, Loughrea, Craughwell, Clarinbridge and Oranmore.

It must be remembered that a greenway is not simply a method of getting from A to B, for example, putting the route alongside the old N6 route would not be appealing to tourists looking to sample the delights of rural Ireland. They are not coming here with their bicycles or hiring bicycles to cycle alongside a road - the route needs to be attractive in its own right. It must also link in with towns or villages every 20 kilometres. The benefits of greenways to rural towns can be seen most effectively in Newport, County Mayo, which has been regenerated through the huge numbers using the Great Western Greenway with cafés and a hotel opening to meet demand.