South Wicklow greenway funding gap exposed as just €108,195 drawn from €1.55m allocation

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The Arklow–Shillelagh Greenway has been allocated €1.55 million in State funding since 2023, yet only €108,195 has been drawn down, a funding gap that is fuelling growing concern among councillors about the project’s slow pace and uncertain timelines.

The figures, confirmed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in a recent parliamentary reply to Wicklow Wexford TD Malcom Byrne, have intensified the scrutiny of Wicklow County Council’s handling of what is widely seen as one of south Wicklow’s most important tourism and economic development opportunities.

The low drawdown reflects a project still stuck in its early technical phases, despite years of anticipation. TII notes that spending depends on work completed and can be delayed by contractor availability, regulatory requirements, and coordination with other projects.

The council has appointed technical advisors to lead Phase 3 — Design and Environmental Evaluation — and Phase 4, the statutory processes. This phase will refine the preferred route, establish the land footprint, and involve extensive engagement with affected landowners.

However, Phase 3 is expected to take up to 24 months, a timeline that has raised eyebrows among councillors, who had expected more momentum by mid 2026. They say the absence of a published programme of works, combined with the lack of on‑the‑ground activity, is undermining confidence in the project’s delivery.

The political concern is not merely about pace but about risk. TII has confirmed that funding can be reallocated if a project does not progress within a given year. With only a fraction of the allocated money spent, continued delays could jeopardise future allocations or weaken the project’s standing within national active travel and greenway investment priorities.

For communities along the proposed route, the greenway represents a chance to boost tourism, support local businesses, and strengthen south Wicklow’s identity as an outdoor destination.

That sense of opportunity is now being matched by frustration, as residents and local groups wait for tangible signs of advancement.

Speaking about the importance of the project, Deputy Byrne said the project is critical to the development of the tourism potential of the region.

“There are many people invested in its success. It really is incumbent on Wicklow County Council to treat this as a top priority.”

As councillors continue to press for clarity, the coming months will be crucial.