Taoiseach warns of 'trouble' with CPO for Greenway projects

The Taoiseach Micheal Martin has warned that 'you are in trouble' if a Greenway project goes to CPO stage and called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to 'ease up on the spec'.

The issue of Greenway development in Mayo and other counties was raised by Independent Ireland TD, Michael Collins during a Dáil debate yesterday afternoon.

The Cork South-West TD told the Dáil that farmers and landowners along the proposed Cork to Kinsale had experienced a summer 'of huge discontent and serious upset' as did communities in Kerry and Mayo. He questioned why the threat of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) remained in place and asked the Taoiseach if he would stand up for small landowners.

In response to the question, An Taoiseach said that he was not familiar with the particular background negotiations with TII but agreed that 'you are in trouble' if a Greenway goes to CPO stage.

“Sometimes I say to TII that it needs to ease up on the spec too. People want to retain the biodiversity. They want to retain the natural pathways. We do not need super spec in my view, or intrusions on the landscape either. I will certainly have a look at it and see what is happening there. Once you get into the CPO, you are in trouble in terms of any  greenway,” he said.

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Deputy Martin also raised the success of the Seven Heads peninsula walk in West Cork walkway which was developed by the Foróige youth organisation, working with the farmers and those who owned the land in that area and with the local community.

“There was no talk of anybody. There was no TII; there was nothing. They just did it as a local community endeavour, and it has been one of the most enjoyable recreational walks that people come from all over the country to participate in. That is the kind of spirit that should inform any developments,” he said.

One of the main reasons for opposition to the preferred route option of the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway among landowners is the requirement of the TII to acquire the land instead of allowing permissive access and the threat of CPO.

They also argue that the Greenway should go along the main Louisburgh road but the TII argue that the Greenway will have to be developed to certain specifications and guidelines.

In his address to the Dáil, Deputy Collins said that the current model for the delivery of Greenways adopted by the TII is not working.

“A walkway anywhere in our country has to be welcome, but with peaceful negotiations as was done in the world-renowned Sheep's Head and Beara Way. That is the model to do this, not the TII model with its sword over the head called CPO.

“CPO has its use for infrastructural projects as a last resort, but to use CPO to grab land from farmers and landowners for recreational purposes is one step too far. This peaceful campaign in west Cork has opened up similar nightmares for landowners throughout the country who had or will have their lands taken from them by the TII with CPO for walkways in counties Mayo and Kerry and other parts of the country,” he said.