COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 09, 2012

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor E. Higgins

To ask the Manager to provide a report on the creation and development of walking trails and cycle tracks throughout the County and identifies any possible funding sources for developing same?

REPLY:

The Council provides over 200km of walking and cycling paths in public parks and open spaces across the county. In addition, the Council has provided an extensive network of cycle track, as part of the public road system throughout the county, which links to the emerging network of cycle paths in public parks.

This network is expanded and improved on an annual basis, most recently in 2011 / 2012 in Clondalkin Park and Griffeen Valley Park. and Dargle Wood in Knocklyon where enhanced walking and cycling facilities have been provided with support from the National Transport Authority under a range of programmes.

Slí na Sláinte waymarked routes, ranging from 500m to 5km in length, have been provide in public parks throughout the county in association with the Irish Heart Foundation. These have proven to be popular with the public and are well used on a daily basis in most parks where they have been provided. 

The Dublin Mountains Way, a long distance waymarked walking route of 47km was provided in 2010, in association with the Dublin Mountains Partnership. The route extends from the Town Centre in Tallaght (LUAS Red Line Terminus) to Shankill in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area, traversing a number of Coillte properties.  

One of the most significant schemes completed in recent years was the Grand Canal Way Green Route, an 8.5km combined walking and cycle route extending from the 12th Lock at Adamstown, Lucan to the 3rd Lock at Inchicore in the city area. This route was a result of a combined approach by South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland and the ESB. The route was officially opened in 2010 and has proven to be a very popular and well used local and regional green route. It also form part of An Ceangal Glas, The Green Loop, long distance green route. 

The idea for An Ceangal Glás (The Green Loop) trail originated in South Dublin County Council and was quickly taken on board by the adjoining authorities of  Dublin City, Fingal, Kildare, the OPW and Waterways Ireland with strong support from the National Trails Advisory Committee of the Irish Sports Council. The trail links the Grand and Royal Canals via public parks and open spaces in South Dublin, Dublin City, the Phoenix Park, Fingal and Kildare. The trail was first marked out as a one day event for National Trails Day, 2011 to guage interest and viability in the route. As a result of the initial trial, it was demonstrated that it was a viable route although there are some constraints on certain parts of the route.

Further planning and refinement of the route has taken place and the route was marked out again for a National Bike Week event on Sunday 24th June when over 250 cyclists travelled the 46km route. It is hoped that the route could be developed into a permanent waymarked national trail in the Dublin Region which would draw visitors and recreational users to the region. While the majority of the route is off-road, there are a number of significant issues to be worked through to make the route as attractive and as safe as possible for cyclists and walkers.

The Council recently applied for funding under the National Cycle Network Local Authority Funding Scheme 2012/13, operated by the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport for proposed cycle/walking routes in Clondalkin ( Camac Valley Camping & Caravan Park to Clondalkin Village via Corkagh Park) and Lucan (the South Dublin Section of An Ceangal Glás, The Green Loop). Just two applications were permitted per local authority and while strong applications were made for both projects, the South Dublin County Council applications were not successful on this occasion. 

The Council's Planning Department is co-ordinating an interdepartmental approach to the provision / enhancement of walking and cycling routes in the county and considerable success has been achieved in advancing projects and securing funding for permeability and sustainble travel projects in 2011 and again in 2012 under the National Transport Authority/DTTAS programmes supporting sustainable travel iniatives.

As part of this programme, proposals are being advance to enhance from local housing areas in south west Clondalkin to the Grand Canal Green Route.    

The Council also completed a National Standard Cycle Race Track in Corkagh Park earlier this year. This project was developed with Cycle Ireland and was supported by grant assistance from Sports Capital Programme operated by the Department of  Transport, Tourism & Sport.

The Council continues to plan and develop proposals for walking and cycling routes in the county and is seeking funding support, wherever possible, to support the implementation of further projects.  An interdepartmental Steering Group has been formed, tasked with advancing proposals for walking and cycling routes and also to make application for funding support to progress projects.