Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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626. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Blessington greenway project (details supplied) in County Wicklow, which is shovel-ready, will be allocated funding given that several projects have not drawn down their allocated funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45378/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​I am not in a position to say at this stage which of the greenway projects already awarded funding under my Department's funding programmes will not draw down the full grant amount.  I recognise that a small number of projects awarded funding are not progressing as expected, however, each will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

I have stated on many occasions that Local Authorities, if they wish to attract funding from the Exchequer, should carry out as much work as possible, including Part 8 planning, from their own resources so that if funding becomes available they would then be well positioned to obtain any such funding. Local Authorities shuould invest their own money and resources into preparing these projects rather than waiting on central Government funding to do so.

The fact that Wicklow County Council do not currently have Part 8 planning in place means that the project is not "shovel ready".  Wicklow County Council may wish to consider proceeding with the Part 8 planning process for the Blessington Greenway so as to be shovel ready and well placed to compete in any future funding calls.