Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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649. 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. [39720/18]

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 13 km. 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.

Some work on the development of the Grand Canal towpath has already taken place in all Council areas, with approximately 24 km of the route completed to Greenway standard.

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. Waterways Ireland is assisting this process by working closely with officials.

Waterways Ireland, in collaboration with all the Local Authorities along the route of the Grand Canal, is currently working on the funding options to develop this route, which, combined with the Royal Canal Greenway, would constitute the longest Greenways in Ireland. Linked ultimately to the Royal towpath, the Grand Canal development would provide recreational infrastructure, all largely off-road and already in public ownership of a type and breadth almost unprecedented in Europe