Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current progress being made with the Barrow Blueway; the cost of the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2973/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Barrow Blueway project is a significant initiative which will support communities, and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives.

Waterways Ireland obtained planning permission for the Project, a 46 kilometre stretch from Lowtown to Athy, including the canal side works and the roadside works. Work commenced on this project in late summer 2020 with completion expected in late 2022.

Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for overall project delivery.

The project objectives are to:

(1) Provide upgraded and new physical infrastructure in accordance with planning permission;

(2) Provision of infrastructure to achieve ‘Accredited Blueway’ status for the route; and

(3) Co-ordinate marketing activity to maximise the potential of the Blueway.

Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal side works with the roadside works being undertaken by Kildare County Council.

To date Waterways Ireland have completed 20.2km of the canal side works; expenditure on the construction of the project to date is €1,490,500.

Project updates are published regularly by Kildare County Council on its website