Peter 'Chap' Cleere: Consult Landowners Before Greenways

First of all I'd like to say thanks a million to all our speakers. Very, very comprehensive presentations and we appreciate that in the timely fashion in which you had it in with us. And obviously it goes without saying, just to acknowledge the role of family farms and the importance to rural Ireland and the contribution to make to rural Ireland and to the country as well at large. It's important to acknowledge that. But also there is a hugely valuable contribution that tourism infrastructure also makes to rural Ireland. And I think today is a very important opportunity to listen to yourselves, to listen to the views and the implications that you've so delicately outlined that some of these greenways etc. can cause to rural Ireland and farms and individuals as well. And the one message I'm getting loud and clear is that greenways must be developed in conjunction and in consultation with landowners across the way. Down in my neck of the woods in Kilkenny, we have a south east greenway currently operating at the moment, 24km, spectacular off-road, but it's on an old public railway. So it's public land, it's public use. It's a fantastic off-road, cycling and walking trail along the old railway line. And it's going to breathe life back into towns and villages along that route, the likes of Sleave Road, the likes of Glenmore, and connect Watford to hold it over to New Ross with those towns and villages. And indeed we have plans to actually extend that from New Ross right up to Woodstock Gardens near the Stig. And the one message I'm getting loud and clear from yourselves is that that consultation piece has to be paramount. It's absolutely essential that anybody who's going to potentially be affected, that they need to be consulted and they need to be consulted early. Because there's no denying that there's huge positive impacts in terms of what these greenways can bring, but it cannot be to the detriment or cannot be to the detriment of farm families and rural Ireland. That's very, very important. And I hear you loud and clear in terms of your sentiments of all speakers that it cannot and it should not be compulsory. I get that, I accept that. Now, once all the consultation has gone through, there may be instances or circumstances where a workaround would have to be made. And I think it's very important from a compensation perspective as well that proper measures are put in place. But I think the first port of call has to be dialogue and consultation. And only as a last resort. I know, Chair, you mentioned sometimes it comes up very early, but it should be an absolute last resort that any CPO is even mentioned and that conversation even happens. And I think you've outlined and been very, very eloquent in your description of it. My questions, very briefly, is just in terms of that engagement piece. So all three groups have mentioned the engagement piece. I'm not sure is there a formal structure around that or is it just consultation and we'll go up and knock on the door and we'll be consulted. So I'd like to get your views in relation to what engagement currently takes place, what it looks like. Is there a formal structure in place? Maybe Fionnuala coming first and then we'll go around. That's okay. Okay. Thank you, Deputy. And I can give you, you know, you mentioned the potential Woodstock to New Ross Greenway. 1,200 letters were sent to landowners. There wasn't a name in any of them. It was like a photo, sorry, a postal drop to everybody. And the reality is, is that the first consultation meeting, only 55 people turned up. And I think that's one of the problems. Yes, there is consultation, but the reality is, is that, you know, it needs to be considerably better, more structured. It should not be seen as a box ticking exercise by a county council. You know, we've done this, we've ticked the box here and we move on. I do think there's lessons to be learned in all of this. But I think the big problem is, is that there's 60 projects out there at the moment that are in some shape or form going through the process. You know, it's a competitive, county councils are competing with each other in order to get to a position where they can get to the next stage. And then the gate opens up for more funding. A lot of these projects will never be realistically built. And that's leaving a lot of concern, stress, worry, and anxiety on individual landowners and people potentially impacted by this. So I suppose my plea here today is, is that, you know, we are opening up a new strategy dialogue and a new code of practice review, but it has to take into account of the reality that there may never be all of these big projects happening. Focus the money where it needs to be focused, on the ones that are deliverable, not on the ones that will never be achieved. Because as I said in my statement, there's 60 projects out there, that's six billion. TII only have an allocation of 60 million euros per year to deliver 30 kilometres of greenway a year. So you aim for what can be achieved. You don't daydream and create stress, anxiety, and worry for people that will never be impacted by a greenway. And that's I think the biggest problem, Deputy. Thank you Deputy Howard.