Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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914. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the proposed works for the Mell Greenway, Drogheda, following the further engagement from her Department offering an extension to 31 January 2023 to allow the local authority to progress the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing infrastructure.

In February 2020, Louth County Council was approved funding of €200,000 under ORIS to develop and enhance the Boyne Greenway. To date no funding has been drawn down on this project.

In September 2021, the Department approved a proposal by the Council to change the scope of the project, on the condition that a Project Implementation Plan would be submitted. A draft plan was submitted in January 2022 which indicated an expected completion project date of December 2022.

Further delays were experienced with the project as it is subject to planning approval by An Bord Pleanála. Given the issues that arose, an extension to the 31st of January 2023 was approved to allow the local authority to progress the project.

My officials have continued to engage with Louth County Council regarding the project. At the end of January, Louth County Council advised that the application is still under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. If planning permission is secured in the coming week, the local authority has indicated that it intends to award contracts by the second quarter of 2023, move to construction phase and draw down funding in full before the end of this year.

On this basis, a further extension to 31st of March 2023 has recently been approved. Progress on delivery will again be reviewed at that point. If sufficient progress has not been made by the approved extension date, it is likely that the funding allocation will be decommitted. In those circumstances, once the necessary consents were in place, it would be open to Louth County Council to submit a new application for consideration under the Scheme.