Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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349. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position on the provision of an infrastructural project (details supplied) in County Kildare [4674/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 entire Barrow Blueway Project including the canal side works and the roadside works from Lowtown to Athy, a distance of approximately 46km. Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery.

The project objectives are to:

- Provide upgraded and new physical infrastructure in accordance with planning permission:

- The provision of infrastructure to achieve ‘Accredited Blueway’ status for the route: and

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

Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal side works elements only. To date they have completed 30km of towpath, with a further 5.9km of towpath currently under construction with an expected completion date of mid 2023.

Kildare County Council publishes project updates regularly on its website www.kildarecoco.ie.