DUBLIN West TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has announced funding of e600,000 to provide a dedicated cycle track and footpath along the Royal Canal.
Announcing funding details for the project Minister Varadkar confirmed that the Royal Canal between Ashtown and Castleknock will be upgraded to a full cycle and pedestrian route.
Dublin 15 residents will be able to use the new facility for recreation purposes and it will also provide a dedicated cycle route towards the city.
“I’m delighted to confirm funding for this project, which will transform this stretch of the Royal Canal into a great new facility,
? the minister said.
“The new route will be ideal for recreation purposes, providing an outlet for cyclists and walkers in the area.
“It will also provide a dedicated cycle and walking route into Dublin, and should encourage more people to leave their car and to cycle instead.
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Minister Varadkar also outlined a longer term proposal to develop a greenway right across Ireland, alongside the Royal Canal. This could run from Dublin to Galway, and on to Westport, using the bankside of the Royal Canal as its route.
“Fingal County Council and the National Transport Authority are currently carrying out a study on the feasibility of developing a Greenway along the canal between Ashtown and Leixlip,
? he revealed.
“It would be a very exciting project to extend this and provide the first cross-country Greenway across Ireland. It could use the Ashtown to Castleknock Greenway as the start of a much longer route.
“I’m very excited by this cross-country Greenway proposal, although we are still at a very early stage. Nevertheless, if the project does prove feasible, and if funding can be secured, I believe it would be a major asset for outdoor recreation and tourism in Ireland.
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Meanwhile Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman, has urged Fingal County Council to be extremely sensitive to environmental concerns when undertaking any development along the Royal Canal towpath.
Mr O’Gorman presented a local Green Party submission to the Royal Canal Green Way public consultation in which he called on the council to investigate the construction of a dual cycleway and pedestrian path from the 12th Lock pub to Ashtown.
However, he recommended against major construction work on the section of the Royal Canal between Castleknock Train Station and Clonsilla, due to the environmentally sensitive nature of the canal along this stretch.
“In my submission, I proposed that a quality cycleway and pedestrian route should be developed along the towpath between Ashtown bridge and the 12th Lock Pub,
? he said.
“This section of the route is quite wide and should be able to facilitate both pedestrians and cyclists. Such a cycleway would link Blanchardstown and Castleknock to the north City Centre via the existing cycleway at Ashtown.
“However, the section of the canal between Castleknock and Clonsilla train stations is far more sensitive from an environmental perspective. The strip of land by the canal is much narrower, particularly along that section either side of the Coolmine bridge known as the
‘Deep Sinking’.
“In order to provide sufficient space for a quality cycleway and pedestrian access, major work would have to be undertaken. I do not think that the benefit from this sort of work would justify the environmental damage that would have to be inflicted on what is one of the most beautiful areas of the canal along the Dublin 15 section.
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