Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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537. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will engage with Fáilte Ireland, local authorities and other stakeholders to examine the way existing and planned coastal and river defences could also act as valuable walking and cycling infrastructure; if his attention has been drawn to the example of the Keel Loop Walk, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The provision of walkways and cycleways is a matter for local authorities and the OPW would be happy to work with the local authorities and other State bodies with their planned development of such community assets, where feasible.

In respect of the OPW’s planned programme of flood relief schemes, the OPW works with those local authorities that wish to explore opportunities for the provision, where feasible, of additional public realm elements such as cycling and walking.

As the Deputy is aware the Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of embankments that form part of arterial drainage schemes it completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. These embankments are not in State ownership but are on lands that are for the most part privately owned. I am advised that these embankments were not designed or constructed to cater for cycleways or walkways and might not have the capability to have any sort of walking or cycling infrastructure placed on top of them.