Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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398. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the current and planned implementation of the Liffey Valley Park Strategy, given the OPW's original co-ordination role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39640/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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399. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department or the OPW under his remit will proactively facilitate the development of a Liffey Valley park, incorporating lands in public and private ownership, as per the OPW's original role in the Liffey Valley Park Strategy, and co-ordinate with local authorities and stakeholders, given that the project appears to have stalled while Kildare County Council has already implemented part of the strategy, South Dublin County Council and Fingal Councils have had only one meeting in over five years to progress a Liffey Valley Park committee to protect the valley; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39641/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.

Lands at St Catherine's Park, Lucan, were acquired by the OPW in 2006 with a view to their forming the nucleus of a Liffey Valley Park.

Responsibility for developing these lands, and the implementation of the wider Liffey Valley Park, was handed to the local authorities involved with Fingal County Council taking the lead in this project.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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400. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department or the OPW are willing to fund the restoration of the Guinness "Silver" Bridge to link the Phoenix Park to the Liffey Valley area as part of an important regional environmental and heritage strategy; to outline how such funds could be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39642/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Guinness or silver bridge is a disused box girder bridge over the River Liffey at the Strawberry Beds. It is not in the ownership of the Commissioners of Public Works.

It was built in the 1870s to carry water and electricity from the mill race to Farmleigh House and the clock tower. The bridge had a deck, covering the cables and pipes, for the use of pedestrians , particularly Guinness workers who lived south of the river as a short cut to the great house.

The bridge is long disused and any restoration would be a matter for the local authority, Fingal County Council.