Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the grant application submitted to his Department in respect of the development of the Leitrim and Cavan Greenway; when will this application be approved and funding allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38835/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the grant application submitted to his Department in respect of the development of the Sligo and Leitrim Greenway; when will this application be approved and funding allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38836/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together.

​No new application for funding has been made for either the Sligo/Leitrim Greenway or the Cavan/Leitrim Greenway. Applications for funding for both were made as part of the National Cycle Network funding call for 2014 - 2016 but were unsuccessful as the costs involved were significantly higher than the funding available. However both projects were highly regarded by the assessment team involved.

I understand that progress is being made by all three local authorities on the preparation of planning documentation and I commend them on their work to date, it is an example that other local authorities would do well to follow. This work will put them in prime position to attract funding when it comes available in the near future.

I further understand that there may be funding available under the INTERREG VA funding call for cross-border greenways and that this call will open in December this year, and I would urge local authorities in the border counties to work with their counterparts across the border to submit applications for funding.