COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
QUESTION NO. 11
QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell
"To ask the Chief Executive for a progress update on the proposed Liffey Valley Blueway?"
REPLY:
The South Dublin County Tourism Strategy launched in 2015 envisaged the development of a Liffey Valley Cluster. The proposal included a number of options for projects that would interpret and make accessible heritage on the River Liffey and develop a tourism experience to:
- Connect South Dublin to Dublin City
- Develop a market awareness of the beauty of this part of Dublin
- Provide an enjoyable experience to tourists and locals
- Support local villages such as Lucan and Palmerstown as well as villages in other counties
The strategy recommended that consideration should be given to developing and promoting the concept of the Liffey Blueway. In 2017, South Dublin County Council and Fingal County Council commissioned Venturei Network to carry out a feasibility assessment for the development of a Liffey Blueway. In the draft report the consultants have advised following completion of this study that 'this section of the River Liffey is not especially suited to Blueway Branding and that investment in and sustaining a Blue Way in the study area will not result in significant uplift in inbound tourism and that it is recommended that Blueway Branding is not pursued at this time'. However the report identifies a number of project options within the study area which have a good balance between investment cost and potential return and which are listed in the attached draft summary to this report. In tandem with the local feasibility studies, the Dublin Canal Green Way Loop, an interagency project of regional importance led by Waterways Ireland will have a significant potential impact on the development of the Liffey Valley Custer as envisaged in the South Dublin County Tourism Strategy. A representative from Waterways Ireland will provide a presentation to the elected members on the Dublin Canal Green Way Loop at next Lucan Area Committee scheduled for the 19th April 2018.