Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has expressed his “grave concern” for the future development of the West Clare Railway Greenway project between Ennistymon and Moyasta.
Deputy Cooney said a recent decision by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) not to approve a Clare County Council funding application to advance a significant portion of the 100-kilometre greenway has raised fears locally that the scale and economic ambition of the project is being undermined.
A TII allocation of €850,000 has been provided for the progression of the Kilrush to Kilkee section of the Greenway in 2025, with an additional €500,000 approved for the Ennis to Ennistymon section.
In response to his written representation on the matter, the TII informed Deputy Cooney that it will “give consideration to funding the progression of the Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Miltown Malbay to Moyasta Greenway sections in 2026 taking cognisance of the limited funding available to TII generally and the many competing demands for such funding.”
The Clare TD said he would be requesting the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, and Ministers of State Seán Canney and Jerry Buttimer to permit any underspend in other Greenway projects being developed by Clare County Council, and across the country, to be reallocated to ensure the momentum for the unfunded sections of this project can continue.
“I have grave concerns for the development of the Greenway project from Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Miltown Malbay to Moyasta North, which represent a vital component of the larger Greenway,” stated Deputy Cooney. “Despite landowner consultation that has been ongoing since 2017, the completion of a public consultation on route options along with tourism and appraisal studies, and the appointment of key specialists, including a Land Valuer, Project Agronomist, Legal Advisors, Quantity Surveyors and Landscape Architects, the Ennistymon to Moyasta segment of the proposed greenway has been denied the necessary funding to proceed to the next stage of development.”
Deputy Cooney continued, “This is a project that would transform tourism in this county at a time when the sector is facing significant challenges. We have seen the economic value of the Westport and Waterford Greenways to their respective local communities and, therefore, it is vital that this project receives the necessary support from TII and the Department of Transport. I will be requesting the Department consider other avenues for funding the Ennistymon to Moyasta sections of the Greenway, including the potential reallocation of any underspend on other Greenway projects across the county and the country.”