Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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962. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the plans to link Shannon harbour and Dublin city centre with a greenway cycle and pedestrian path; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30133/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Grand Canal crosses Leinster from Ringsend in Dublin City to Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly.  Its main line is 131km in length with the Naas and Corbally Branch adding a further 12km to the route and the Kilbeggan Branch adding an additional 13km.  The towpath along the canal is fully in public ownership and provides a unique opportunity to provide a Greenway linking Grand Canal Dock in Dublin with Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly. Work on the development of the Grand Canal towpath has already taken place at Ringsend,  the 3^rdlock at Inchicore to the 12^thlock in Lucan, Co. Dublin , Hazelhatch, Co. Kildare and Edenderry, Co. Offaly.

Waterways Ireland is currently working with Offaly County Council, Kildare County Council, South Dublin Council and Dublin City Council to ensure the progression of planning permission for those areas not yet developed as a walking and cycling route for recreational, tourism and commuter purposes.  All Local Authorities are keen to progress the development of the towpath and it is anticipated that each Council area will submit Part 8 planning applications for the undeveloped sections in the autumn of 2018/spring of 2019, and Waterways Ireland are assisting this process by working closely with officials. 

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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963. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status on a phase basis of the greenway project between Castleknock, Dublin 15 and Maynooth, County Kildare; the progress made to date on each phase; the estimated completion dates for each phase; the amount of funding that was made available for each phase of the project in 2018; if further funding will issue in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30151/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is working closely with Local Authorities and The National Transport Authority along the route of the Royal and Grand canals to advance development of the canal towpaths into long distance Greenways for walking and cycling.

With regard to the development of towpath from Castleknock to Fingal County border at Confey, a distance of 8km, Fingal County Council, funded by the National Transport Authority, has appointed consultants to investigate the options for the towpath development with a view to bring a scheme through the planning process. Waterways Ireland have informed me that work on this section will be dependent on the outcome of the planning application and then subject to funding.

Planning permission for towpath upgrade from Confey to Maynooth a distance of 9km in Kildare county,  was granted in 2017. Consultants have been appointed by Kildare County Council to take the project to detailed design and tender with the intention to tender and appoint a contractor before the end of 2018. This work is being funded by the National Transport Authority. Subject to continued funding this element of towpath development should commence early 2019.