Push for greenway in Laois as TD argues county is ‘overlooked’
Laois TD Willie Aird has said the absence of a greenway in Laois is a “serious disadvantage” for the county, as he called for greater investment into tourist infrastructure.
Speaking last week in the Dáil, the Fine Gael TD called for increased investment in tourism infrastructure in rural counties and said that Laois has “enormous tourism potential” that is not being fully realised.
There have been calls for a greenway in Laois for years. In April, some progress was finally made in the development of a potential greenway in the county as Laois County Council confirmed a design team had been selected for the proposed Portlaoise to Attanagh Greenway.
The design team will undertake a feasibility study once approval from TII has been obtained.
Commenting on the current absence of a greenway in Laois, Deputy Aird said: “One of the biggest tourism and recreational gaps in County Laois is that we do not have a greenway. We are one of the few counties in this State without one.”
Deputy Aird also reiterated his support for a proposed greenway development based on a former Bord na Móna rail corridor, which he called the “O’Moore Way.”
“There is real potential in the old Bord na Móna rail corridor from Cashel bog through Togher Woods and over to Ross bog. The corridor exists in its entirety. It is all there, ready to go if we get the funding,” Deputy Aird told the Dáil
He said he had raised the issue with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and at committee level, and urged “joined-up thinking” between agencies.
He also argued that more balanced regional development is needed to support the tourism sector, pointing out the high numbers of people visiting major attractions in Laois.
Recent figures from the OPW showed that visitor numbers to Emo Court more than doubled to 305,539 last year. The Rock of Dunamase also recorded impressive figures, with 43,824 visitors last year.
Deputy Aird referred to both Emo Court and the Rock of Dunamase as examples of strong-performing sites in Laois and how they demonstrate what can be achieved by investment.
He argued that Laois and the Midlands have been overlooked for too long in national tourism planning and warned that infrastructure gaps, such as having no greenway, are holding back further growth.
“Tourism does not happen by accident. It needs investment in infrastructure, walking and cycling routes, heritage conservation and destination development,” he said.
“If we want counties like Laois to reach their potential, we must be fair in how national tourism funding is delivered.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme