18 September 2009
MINISTER SARGENT AND TRANSPORT MINISTER DISCUSS PLAN FOR FINGAL CYCLEWAY AND WALKWAY
Local TD, and Minister, Trevor Sargent took the first opportunity on the return of Dáil Éireann to raise with Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey TD, the transport needs of North County Dublin.
Both ministers agreed that the expected restoration of the northern rail service by November 2009 was the current priority. Also Minister Sargent reported that the viaduct engineering work was yielding vital information to assist with the installation of the cycleway and walkway across the Broadmeadow Estuary.
In response, Minister Dempsey undertook to invite a proposal from Fingal County Council to set out what is now needed to make the County Development Plan objective before this cycleway/walkway route a reality.
The Minister said, ‘I will be following up on this breakthrough for this vital over-water section of the coastal cycle /walkway which will extend the Clontarf coastal cycle/walkway north to Baldoyle and on to Balbriggan. Now is the time to make this plan a reality when construction work is in such short supply and also more cost effective than during the ‘tiger years’. Locally, access from the Donabate Pensinsula to Malahide and Dublin city will assist school and business commuters as well as attracting many tourists who love to walk and cycle away from motorised traffic in natural surroundings.’
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