Written answers

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Greenways Development

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

520. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to compensate land owners who lose portions of their payments, for example, via the GLAS scheme specifically owing to land given up for the development of a greenway, cycleway and walkway in the context of his responsibility for the strategy for the future development of national and regional greenways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51143/19]

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

The Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways sets out a number of options for the development of Greenways and the use of land for building Greenways. Walkways are generally funded by the Minister for Rural and Community Development.

In relation to Greenways, issues relating to compensation will be dealt with on a case by case basis as each landowner is impacted in different ways. Where the income of a landowner is impacted by the building of a Greenway on land that they previously owned and sold for a Greenway to be built or where they have given permissive access for the building of a Greenway it is likely that lost income will be reflected in payments to be made. It is important to note that the aim of project promoters when building Greenways is to limit the impact on landowners as much as possible.

Following the publication of the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways a Group was established to develop a Code of Best Practice. The Group is examining, inter alia, issuesrelating to consultation, compensation for land access and route options. Farming representative bodies are members of the group along with state agencies, local authorities and Government Departments.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.