Environment

Minister Ciaran Cannon Joins Cavan County Council in Ruling out CPOs for Future Greenway Routes 

 IFA National Environment Chairman Thomas Cooney has described recent comments made by Minister Cannon about greenways as a “real step forward by Government, in the development of a co-design collaborative approach to the development of recreational routes.”

Mr. Cooney said “When Minister Cannon told the Connacht Tribune that “CPOs are out the window” he could not have been clearer regarding Government’s position for greenway development. This position must also be adopted by Minister Griffin for the proposed South Kerry greenway project, where the local authority has ignored the National Greenway Strategy and lodged a planning application. By doing this they may have actually jeopardised future funding for this important greenway project.”

Thomas Cooney concluded, “Recreational routes, such as greenways, have an important role to play in the development of the rural economy. The recently announced National Greenways Strategy by Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin requires local authorities to adopt a consultative and proactive manner with the potentially affected landowners, that is sensitive to their needs, that maximises their support for, and goodwill towards, the proposed Greenway and is in line with an agreed code of practice.’ This is the blueprint which local authorities, such as Cavan and Ministers including Ciaran Cannon, have signed up to and that all local authorities must follow.”

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