Written answers

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Greenways Development

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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594. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of greenways that are completed and under construction on a national level; if there is a national policy to expand on the number of greenways and to maintain them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8494/17]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Attached in the following table are details of the greenway/cycle routes for which funding was granted to local authorities by my Department since 2009. It is a condition of grant award that the ongoing maintenance of completed infrastructure rests with the local authority. It should be noted that other greenway/cycle projects have been/are being progressed by local authorities either using own resources or with funding sourced from other Government Departments or EU programmes.

My Department is intent on building on the work achieved to date and is currently developing a new Strategy for the future development and funding of greenways. The proposed Strategy will include the approach to be taken by authorities and agencies tasked with delivering greenway infrastructure. The Department will undertake a public consultation process in the near future to inform the development of the new Greenways Strategy and all interested parties will have the opportunity to give their views on such issues as part of this public consultation process.  

It should be noted that the projects constructed to date with funding from my Department are a mix of on-road and off-road and while some cannot be considered "greenways" in the strictest sense they do feed into the expansion of a network of cycle routes.

The following cross border greenway proposals were awarded funding in 2016 under the INTERREG VA Programme.  These projects will be co-funded by my Department and will be delivered over the seven year period to 2023. 

- Carlingford Lough Greenway

- Ulster Canal Greenway (Phase 2)

- North West Greenways Network

The Programme for Government also commits to providing additional capital funding for various tourism projects, including greenways.  I will be seeking to deliver this additional funding in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan and the Greenways Strategy, when completed, will provide the basis for the future development of Greenways around the country in the coming years.

Greenway/Cycling projects funded

All projects completed unless otherwise stated

Projects funded 2009-2011

YearLocal AuthorityProjectStatus
2009Galway CityFisheries Field
Dublin CityDublin City Premium Route
South DublinAdamstown to Grand Canal
KerryTralee to Fenit
CorkCarrigaline Walking and Cycling Network
CorkCarrigaline to Crosshaven cycle route
CorkPassage West to Rochestown cycle and walking route
LeitrimCycleways Carrick-on-Shannon
MayoGreat Western Greenway
MayoWestport Town Greenway
Dun Laoghaire RathdownThe Metals Cycleway
FingalSkerries Balbriggan Cycleroute
LimerickLimerick Nenagh Cycle track
LimerickGreat Southern Trail extension
Longford TownRoyal canal cycle and walkway
WestmeathMullingar cycle network extension - Ballinaqgh to Shandonagh
WaterfordThe Track walking and cycling route
LeitrimShannon Erne cycle/walkway
LimerickNenagh Loop cycle/walkway

National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2012-2013 - Projects funded

YearLocal AuthorityProjectStatus
2012Carlow/Kilkenny44.5km cycleway linking Carlow to Paulstown to Kilkenny.
Clare 4km cycleway linking Ennistymon to Lahinch
Donegal195.5km cycle route between Donegal Town and Newtowncunningham
Fingal3km cycle link from Ashtown to Blanchardstown
Kerry1.2km extension to existing cycle/pedestrian route from Killarney to Fossa
Limerick3km extension to the Great Southern Trail (GST) from Abbeyfeale Town to Rathoran.
Louth6.3km greenway from Omeath and Carlingford
Mayo 8.8km greenway from Castlebar to Turlough Park
Meath3km cycle/walkway from Drogheda Ramparts to the Oldbridge Estate entrance.
Monaghan4.5km cycle route through Monaghan Town
North Tipperary2.8km extension to the existing N52 walkway/cycleway
Offaly 16.8km of dedicated cycle lanes along the R420 from Tullamore to Moate
Roscommon20km of dedicated cycle lanes along the former N6 between Athlone and Ballinasloe (funding withdrawn due to inability to deliver project)
Waterford City3.2km cycleway between Tramore and Waterford City
Waterford Co6.4km cycleway between the City Outer Ring Road to Tramore
Westmeath 11.3km upgrading of canal tow path from Boardstown Bridge to county Boundary
*Outside of the NCN Programme Kerry Co Council received funding of €200,000 in 2012, approved in 2010, to complete the Tralee/Spa/Fenit 1.8km cycleway.

National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 - Projects funded

YearLocal AuthorityProjectStatus
2014KerryPhases 2 & 3 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Glenbeigh to Cahirciveen (26km)ongoing
GalwayGalway to Moycullen Greenway (12.4km)ongoing
WaterfordClonea to Durrow Greenway (7.2km) (completed)

Reallocation of NCN Funding from current programme - July, 2016

YearLocal AuthorityProjectStatus
2014KildareKildare section of Dublin to Galway Greenwayongoing
MeathMeath section of Dublin to Galway Greenwayongoing
LongfordAbbeyshrule to Longford Bridge, Ballymahon (15.2km) (extension to Mullingar to Abbeyshrule Greenway)
Westmeath Garrycastle to White Gates (2.2km) (extension to the Mullingar to Athlone Greenway)

Stimulus Funding 2014 - Projects funded

YearLocal AuthorityProjectStatus
2014Clare Phase 1 of the West Clare greenway from Ennis to Ballymacquiggan (5km)
KerryPhase 1 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Cahirciveen to Reenard Point (Fertha Greenway) (5.7km)ongoing
KerryTralee Fenit Trail - Phase 1 Rock Street to Casement Station (.42km)
KildareArthur's Way Greenway - Leixlip to Oughterard via Celbridge/Castletown (25km)
LimerickPatrickswell to Limerick City cycleway (4.14km) #
Mayo Monasteries of the Moy (14km) - part funding of overall project
RoscommonBoyle to Lough Key Forest Park (24km) - part funding of overall projectongoing
TipperaryClonmel to Carrick-on-Suir Greenway (20km)ongoing
WaterfordKilmeaden to Bilberry Greenway (20km)
Westmeath Athlone to Mullingar Greenway (40km)#
Westmeath Coolnahay to the County Boundary (14.4)#

#additional funding awarded to Kildare (104k); Limerick (155k); and Westmeath (3.2m)

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