Alan Kelly’s funding of Greenway routes ‘a real slap in the face’

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly's choice of Greenway cycling and walking trails to provide funding for has been questioned by Independent TD Billy Timmins.

Mr Kelly funded three of the top ten routes shortlisted by experts for State funding and allocated money to a Tipperary greenway* that was not on the list, The Sunday Business Post reported.

“It appears that the funding was used as a political slush fund and the expert advice was ignored...This practice appears to be endemic in Government and the public needs to know exactly what happened here,” Mr Timmins said.

He described Mr Kelly’s choices as “a real slap in the face” to some communities. A route in Blessington, Co Wicklow, in Mr Timmins’ constituency, was one of those to lose out.

Mr Kelly’s spokesman insisted the recommendations of an independent assessment panel were followed by the Minister.

However, he said applying the full criteria from the Department’s National Cycle Network (NCN) programme to additional Government funding that became available would have resulted in “half-built” Greenways.

“There were two separate processes at play regarding Greenway provision. The original NCN programme developed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the additional stimulus package announced by Government, the latter was a separate process,” he said.

“The recommendations of the independent assessment panel for the NCN, which followed a year-long process of a funding call and site visits, were followed by the Minister and projects were funded in Kerry, Galway and Waterford.

“Applying the full criteria from the NCN to the stimulus would have led to half-built Greenways as the original funding was to be spread over two to three years and not one year. This would have been completely impractical.”

Mr Timmins said he would raise the matter in the Dáil at the next opportunity. He is associated with the Reform Alliance whose most prominent member is former minister of state for European affairs Lucinda Creighton.

In June, when Mr Kelly was Minister of State for Transport, he stated in response to a parliamentary question that the Galway to Moycullen Greenway received €2 million, while €3.4 million went to the Glenbeigh to Cahirciveen project and €898,000 to Clonea to Durrow.

He also said a €10 million stimulus package was allocated to the delivery of Greenways as part of a €200 million national infrastructure package. “The criteria applied to this funding was slightly different as projects were prioritised on the basis of capacity to deliver infrastructure within a short timeframe in order to maximise the stimulus effect,” Mr Kelly said.

Meanwhile in Co Kerry a number of landowners along a major €4 million greenway cycling project announced by Mr Kelly last April, do not agree with the project proceeding through their land and others are seeking increased compensation. No provision was made for land purchase in the announcement, it has emerged

The Kells to Cahersiveen greenway along the old railway route was announced last April amid great fanfare on the old railway viaduct overlooking Kells Bay by then public transport minister Alan Kelly.

The 26km project along the old railway line is along private land but the 4 million euro project was announced before agreement was reached with the 120 landowners involved.

Most landowners now agree with the project proceeding, the county council whcih is managing the project have told a meeting of councillors when the issue was raised last Thursday at the local area meeting.

However no provision was made for the purchase of land in the announcement and the project is under “significant financial pressure”, the council is warning.

It has rejected pleas to increase the price ( €15,000 to €25,000 an acre) it is willing to pay for the strips of land necessary for the greenway to proceed.

Described by Mr Kelly in April as “world class” and one of the most dramatic cycleways anywhere, the Kells greenway project would generate as many as 80 jobs, the Minister said.

It was begun by the South Kerry Development Partnership in 2013.However, land acquisition had not been sorted out at the time of the announcement by Mr Kelly. The council who took over the project with the re-alignment of partnerships and councils, have said this would not have been possible before the announcement — but they welcomed the announcement as a sign of commitment to the greenway.

A meeting of the South and West Kerry Municipal District in Killorglin last Thursday evening has been told that a series of meetings have been held with landowners during the summer and the vast majority are in agreement that it should proceed.

“There are still a number of landowners who do not want the project to proceed through their lands. The council are continuing to negotiate with these landowners.”

Local councillor Michael Cahill who is seeking an increase in compensation for the landowners from €15,000 to €20,000 an acre says tiny portions of land, far less than an acre. However the route will cut through back yards and lawns and cause great inconvenience and people should be adequately compensated.

He said most of the landowners did not own an acre of the proposed route and that for the vast majority of these landowners, only a short strip of land is involved.

“In the grant funding ( €3.4 million, along with further €400,000 provided by the council) received from the Department, no provision was made for for the purchase of land. As a result, the project is under significant financial pressure and any increase on the current offer would have serious implications for the ability of the council to complete the scheme within the funding available,” the meeting in Killorglin was told.

The council has previously said it may look at alternatives – compulsory purchase orders and such – where agreement cannot be reached.

Planning and other matters have to be sorted but this can only be done when the land is acquired.

*This article was edited on Tuesday December 2nd