Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

572. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the development of greenways in consultation with communities and without dividing farm holdings. [42095/18]

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

As laid out in the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways, the first option for future Greenways is to examine use of lands that are already in State ownership. In addition to this, the Strategy also sets out a number of options for project promoters to access land for Greenways such as permissive access and land purchase. The aim is to have Greenways that have community support, minimise the impact on landowners, particularly those whose businesses would be affected, and that provide access to scenery and things to see and do for Greenway users. Where the use of private land is necessary it is incumbent on project promoters to engage with stakeholders as early as possible in the process, engage agronomists to ascertain the impact on farming of the proposed route corridor, avoid severance as far as possible and to make all attempts to achieve agreement on routes.