Rathkeale-Limerick Greenway costs under scrutiny

LIMERICK City and County Council have agreed to provide a briefing on the delivery of the Rathkeale-Limerick Greenway following criticism from some councillors about the €150,000 spent on the scheme to date.

Cllr Bridie Collins said councillors have been calling for action on this for years and questioned what the money was spent on. “Some people came out and explained to us that €150,000 had been spent and the only thing that we garnered from that was that they couldn't use the railway line.

“It was obvious from day one we couldn't use the railway line. I was told that specifically because the railway line had to be seconded as a second mode of transport to Foynes port for the freight.”

Cllr Collins added: “What was the 150 grand spent on and why are we getting another set of consultants? It's obvious that we're going to have to use the N21 when it's downgraded to a local road after the Adare bypass is finished.”

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Cllr Collins pressed for clarity on the Adare bypass project. “I want an update on where we are with the missing 3km for the bypass of Adare that should have been included in the original contract and that will make that Adare bypass a much more efficient route because without it, it is completely inefficient and a complete waste of money because we will still have the backups and the logbacked traffic,” she said.

Cllr Stephen Keary also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the project to date. “Ye haven't the courtesy to discuss this project with the councillors.

“€150,00 and not a thing to show for it.” He questioned how much the consultants will charge for this work.

Cllr Elisa O'Donovan voiced that she believes they should be further along at this stage in relation to connecting Rathkeale and Limerick city to the Greenway. “I think since my time as a councillor we have done this every year, where we have looked at a route from Rathkeale to Limerick city so we're just back at square one again.”

Cllr Dan McSweeney noted progress but called for clarity. “I saw in an email that was circulated earlier in the week that we've tendered for the consultant to do the greenway from stage one to stage four. Maybe before we adopt this, to write a letter, it has to be approved and updated... or maybe we can agree to provide a briefing in relation to a way forward to see what's really important.”

Following a meeting of the Travel and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, it was recommended that the council write to the Minister for Transport, the Chairperson of the Board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and the Chief Executive of TII to call for urgent prioritisation and full delivery of the Rathkeale to Limerick city Greenway.