John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

425. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts being made to progress the greenway infrastructure in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19956/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department awarded funding of almost €4 million to Kerry County Council in 2014 for the development of the South Kerry Greenway from Glenbeigh to Renard.  Given the specific engineering challenges and potential land acquisition and other costs associated with delivering the South Kerry Greenway, the funding currently allocated to the project will not be sufficient to provide for its construction.  However, Kerry County Council (KCC) have continued to work on the planning, design and environmental assessment of the greenway and are due to have a pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála in the coming weeks. It is intended following the completion of that process that a formal application for planning approval for the South Kerry Greenway will be submitted.

My Department does not currently have an open call for greenways funding and is therefore not considering any other greenway proposals at present.  KCC submitted proposals for both the North Kerry Line and Tralee Fenit (Phase 1) greenways under the National Cycle Network 2014-2016 funding programme and while no funding was awarded under that programme the Tralee-Fenit proposal was subsequently awarded €345,000 under the Government Stimulus package 2014.

As you will be aware my Department is currently developing a Strategy for the future development of greenways which I aim to publish in Q2 2018.  This Strategy will provide a long term vision and framework upon which Ireland's greenways can be planned in a strategic manner.  The Strategy will also, among other things, seek to address the challenges experienced in delivering the South Kerry Greenway and will provide guidance to all local authorities wishing to avail of funding under future funding calls.