NEWS of tourism grants including a cycling safety promotion have prompted fresh calls for a coastal greenway in Fingal.
Senator James Reilly said while the recreation scheme grants for the Martello towers in Howth and Skerries along with Ardgillan Castle were welcome the long-awaited cycling and walking route was urgently needed.
The Fine Gael Senator revealed that walking and cycling tourism generated e1.2billion in 2014 and Fingal must get in on the action sooner rather than later.
He said: “Fingal has great potential for a coast and castle-way cycling and walking route and it will take sustained determined effort to make that a reality.
“The council has already completed the necessary work for the Balbriggan to Barnageeragh Skerries route and I encourage them to focus on the final leg of that route and come up with a comprehensive plan to link Skerries to Ardgillan Castle and onward then to Balbriggan.
“I note progress has been made on the Malahide to Donabate cycling and walking greenway across the estuary via the train tracks and that a planning application to Bord Pleanala is imminent. I welcome the progress on linking up Newbridge Demesne and Malahide Castle.
“Finally I would also support Fingal Co Council in drawing up a feasibility study to link Skerries to Loughshinny, Rush, Lusk to Donabate, completing the link all the way to Malahide, providing a super greenway from Balbriggan to Malahide and onward into Dublin.”
