Further development in the Galway and Roscommon section of the Galway to Dublin Greenway has been stalled.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, made the announcement and said the focus will now be on completing the section of the Greenway from Maynooth to Westmeath through counties Kildare and Meath, which has planning permission in place and is ready for development.

Due to funding limitations to deliver the Dublin to Galway Greenway, a decision has been made to pause the Galway/Roscommon segment of the route and to progress the Kildare/Meath section, which is shovel ready, instead.

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The Minister said: "Having received the landowner consultation report from TII, it is clear that there are significant concerns among communities in Galway and Roscommon, along the preferred route, about the impact the Greenway will have on them. Having discussed the report with my Departmental officials and with Oireachtas colleagues, I have decided to pause further development on this part of the Greenway to allow time for all to reflect on the issues raised and to give consideration to the possibility of developing a new route that works locally and has the support of key landowners.

"The goal of an iconic cross-country Greenway from Dublin to Galway remains a priority for this Government, however we will now focus on completing the Greenway from Maynooth to Westmeath, with a view to having that section completed in 2017. Funds are limited in respect of Greenways, as they are in all areas, so I have come to the decision, in the interest of delivering not just the Dublin to Galway Greenway but Greenways throughout the country, to progress only those projects that have been properly assessed and approved and that have planning permission in place and are ready to go."

(CD/LM)