Local Greenway plans get €675k injection
Two local Greenway plans have received a boost with the announcement of funding worth a total of €675,000.
Funding worth €500,000 has been injected into the 75km Greenway from Blacklion to Sligo Town; while a further €175,000 has been awarded to the 26km greenway from the Ulster Canal north of Castle Saunderson to link with the Cavan-Leitrim Greeway at Belturbet.
The funding will cover the extensive costs of progressing the projects through the statutory stages. Cllr John Paul Feeley, from Blacklion, said it will help to make them become more than simply "good ideas".
"The development of a greenway network in the region will link key tourist attractions and provide an important local amenity. The allocations will move these two proposals forward significantly and get them ready for construction. These allocations move the proposals from good ideas to implementable projects and will ready them for construction.
A Fianna Fáil councillor, he suggested that the new coalition government was more alert to the needs of rural development, than the previous Fine Gael led government.
"Within a short time these two announcements are a demonstration of a more positive disposition to rural Ireland from the new government and I look forward to this funding leading to funding for the construction stage."
Meanwhile Fine Gael Senator Joe O’Reilly also welcomed the funding development, noting greenways play “an important role in supporting local communities to create jobs and brings visitors to our area”.
“As we have seen over the course of the lockdown, people are eager to get out into nature and avail of the stunning scenery in our country.
“This funding will support the Greenways Strategy and help local authorities around the country prepare Greenway projects to be ready for construction funding in the coming years.
“Our local greenway will encourage tourism in the future, and will also provide a safe, segregated space for people walking and cycling,” said the Bailieborough politician.