Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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578. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the public support that exists in east County Galway for the development of a greenway on the closed railway from Athenry to Tuam and on to Milltown (details supplied). [42328/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Strategic Investment Framework recommended the development of a new rail policy and last year the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann published the Rail Review Report 2016 on which the NTA held a public consultation. Over 300 submissions were received by the NTA in response to that consultation process which have now all been examined. The NTA submitted a report of those submissions to me 2 days ago.

I will consider the report now and I will then bring it to Government. It is my intention that the report on the consultation should be published by the NTA following consideration by Government. In advance of that, no decisions have been taken regarding matters such as the future of individual rail lines or investment in the company and its relevant infrastructure.

My Department recently undertook a public consultation process to inform the development of a new Greenways Strategy. A substantial number of submissions received in this process supported the development of the disused railway line from Athenry to Tuam and on to Milltown as a greenway. My officials are currently reviewing the many submissions received from both citizens and stakeholders. My Department is aiming to have the new Strategy completed by the end of the year. Following completion, it is expected that a new round of funding for greenway infrastructure will be announced.

It is important that local authorities progress work in advance of this funding round as I anticipate that those projects that have feasibility, planning and design work completed will be in a better position to attract funding than those that do not.