McGuinness welcomes partial Royal Canal Path development

Dáil response shows worrying lack of ambition for full Path completion

The announcement by Waterways Ireland of the 2012 upgrading of the Royal Canal Path between Porterstown and Clonsilla is very welcome. Now a commitment needs to be made by all the stakeholders, particularly at political level, to bring together the various interests to work together to ensure the full completion of the Path linking Dublin 15 with Dublin City Centre, according to Cllr David McGuinness.

Cllr McGuinness said, “During the by-election last October, I placed the development of the Royal Canal Path very much on the agenda. I firmly believe that the Path is an under-used local resource, which with some investment, could provide a fantastic facility in terms of commuting and recreation. This announcement by Waterways Ireland marks an important first step in achieving this goal.

I am now calling on the various stakeholders, including the National Transport Authority, Waterways Ireland, the Department of Transport and the two Local Authorities, to engage proactively in putting together a timetable for the development of the Path. This will ensure a link onwards from Keenan Bridge in Porterstown linking it with Coolmine, Castleknock and onwards through Ashtown to the City Centre.

Worryingly, a Dáil response supplied my colleague Timmy Dooley TD received this week (link below) on the issue of the Royal Canal Path showed a real lack of ambition by the Dept of Transport in terms of developing this local resource. I am calling on the Minister for Transport to place his full political support and influence behind this important project and ensure that it is realised – sooner rather than later – for the residents of Dublin 15.”

ENDS.

Note to Editor

See link to this week’s Parliamentary Answer to Timmy Dooley TD on this issue: http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2012/01/25/00174.asp

Also, see some of the previous press coverage relating to the campaign to have the full Royal Canal Path upgraded:

http://e-edition.metroherald.ie/2011/10/03/4.html

http://www.dublinpeople.com/article.php?id=446&l=100