Up to €53 million is to be invested in building new National and Regional Greenways in Ireland between 2019 to 2021.

The "Strategy for the future development of National and Regional Greenways" was launched by Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin on the Old Rail Trail in Moate, County Westmeath, on Friday 20 July.

The Strategy sets out how National and Regional Greenways should be planned and delivered, as well as setting out the importance of early and widespread consultation with landowners and communities along and adjacent to proposed Greenway routes.

As well as emphasising the need to minimise the impact on landholdings by minimising severance as far as possible and providing accommodation works such as fencing and underpasses where required, the Strategy also sets out the importance of access to scenery and things to see and do in order to attract tourists.

-- Advertisement --

Speaking last week, Minister Ross said: "I am delighted to be launching this Strategy today in our Hidden Heartlands. That brand, and indeed our other tourism brands all identify activity tourism as a key sector for sustainably growing tourism numbers in Ireland.

"This Strategy, is, I know, eagerly awaited around the country. People have seen the benefits that have accrued to towns along our Greenways to date, examples such as Newport on the Great Western Greenway, Kilmacthomas on the Waterford Greenway and here in Moate along the Old Rail Trail.

"Our goal is to replicate the success of those towns and those Greenways in other locations around the country. That is why we are focussing our investment on projects of scale, the common denominator of successful projects to date is that they are in the order of 40km and thus provide the opportunity to overnight in a new area."

Minister Brendan Griffin stated: "Our Strategy will help us fund the spine of a network of greenways that can, over time, provide links to the rest of the countryside through quiet roads that will prove attractive to many people cycling."

(LM/MH)