Catherine Murphy, T.D. Dáil Éireann Street 2 - D02 A272

9th July 2020

Dear Deputy

I am writing to you concerning the matter you raised in Parliamentary Question No. 935 on 3 June last to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, which has been referred to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for reply.

Royal Canal Greenway

The Greenway is a key element of the Dublin - Galway National Cycle Route, running through Dublin City, County and Kildare County Council areas. Within the Greater Dublin Area, the scheme is being developed by those local authorities in collaboration with, and funded by, the NTA. The alignment of the scheme parallels the Canal, swapping between the northern and southern sides so as to minimise impacts to the receiving environment.

Construction of Phase 2 (between Sherriff Street Upper and Road - a distance of 0.72 km) began last year and is due for completion shortly. This section includes a new bridge, ramps, underpass and linear park.

Phase 3 (between North Strand Road and Phibsborough Road) is currently at detailed design and will progress to construction in 2021.

Phase 4 (between Ashtown and Cross Gunns Bridge) is also at detailed design and sections will progress to construction later this year.

Consideration is being given to options for the development of the section between and the border of Fingal / Kildare and the outcome of that work is expected to progress to planning later this year.

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The remaining section, which extends from the Fingal / Kildare boundary to has Part 8 planning approval. Kildare County Council and the NTA is currently reviewing some aspects of the detailed design.

In relation to funding, the table below sets out the funded expenditure on the above projects last year and the 2020 funding allocations.

2019 Funded 2020 Funding Scheme Section Expenditure (€) Allocation (€) Royal Canal (Phase 2 – : Sherriff 6,808,395 2,250,000 Street Upper to North Strand Road) Royal Canal (Phase 3 – Dublin City Council: North Strand 154,753 2,800,000 Road to Phibsborough) Royal Canal (Phase 4 – Dublin City Council: 344,181 1,850,000 Phibsborough Road to Ashtown) Royal Canal (Fingal County Council) 157,915 400,000 Royal Canal Kildare (Fingal County Boundary to ) 267,528 750,000

Grand Canal Greenway

The Greenway is an important orbital route for commuters within Dublin City, and an attractive connection to Grangecastle in southwest Dublin, and outwards through and potentially to and the Barrow connection.

It has developed intermittently over the years, initially with on-road cycle lanes running the length of the scheme from Suir Road to Baggot Street within Dublin City in the 1990s. A new section of “Urban Greenway” was opened between Blackhorse Avenue and Grangecastle in 2010. This was followed by the delivery of the section of Grand Canal premium cycle route between Portobello and in 2012, featuring two-way segregated facilities on the inner side of the Canal.

The NTA provided allocations from 2012 to Dublin City Council to progress the design of the remainder of the Grand Canal premium cycle route from Portobello to Suir Road, and significant preliminary design and environmental work was undertaken. However, this project was suspended for a period commencing 2016, in order to redirect scarce resources within Dublin City to the construction of Cross City. While allocations have been made available to the scheme since then, the project has not progressed significantly for the following reasons: -

 An ongoing requirement to resource other committed projects within the Dublin City Council portfolio;  A key junction (Harold’s’ Cross Bridge) was co-opted into the planning of the BusConnects Project, and therefore could not proceed further; and  A decision to upgrade and segregate the existing cycle lanes on the outer side of the Canal, as a matter of priority.

The NTA has not been involved in funding extensions to the Grand Canal Scheme in South Dublin County Council in recent years. However, South Dublin County Council is considering an extension westward as part of the expansion of Grangecastle.

In Kildare, allocations have been provided since 2014 to progress various elements of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan. One of these projects was the route from Harbour to Sallins

Page 2 of 3 along the Grand Canal spur. A preliminary design has been developed for the scheme, but has not as yet been progressed to planning.

In relation to funding, the table below sets out the funded expenditure in respect of the Grand Canal scheme last year and the 2020 funding allocations.

2019 Funded 2020 Funding Scheme Section Expenditure (€) Allocation(€) Grand Canal Dublin City Council (Portobello to Suir 1,566 75,000 Road) Grand Canal Dublin City Council (Improvement to Cycle 10,510 25,000 Facilities) Grand Canal Kildare County Council (Naas Harbour to 6,734 100,000 Sallins)

I apologise for the delay in replying.

Yours sincerely

______Hugh Creegan Deputy Chief Executive

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