Mary Considine of Iarnród Éireann at Heuston Station. Photo: Mark Condren
An aerial view of the preferred route for the Rosslare greenway.
At the public consultation on Rosslare greenway in the Rosslare Community Centre on Thursday were Sean Meyler and Peter Walsh (Consultant). Pic: Jim Campbell
The future of the Rosslare Harbour to Rosslare Strand greenway has been thrown into doubt after Iarnród Éireann said it “cannot support any route” which encroaches upon land in its ownership. Outlining her opposition to the greenway “in the strongest possible terms”, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said the preferred route as presented during the public consultation in Rosslare Strand Community Centre on March 4 includes “lands in the ownership of Iarnród Éireann/CIÉ”.
“These lands are held for critical statutory transport purposes, including the continued operation and future development of rail infrastructure and the strategic expansion of Rosslare Europort as a key element of national port infrastructure,” said Ms Considine in a submission made to Wexford County Council (WCC).
In her submission, the chief executive stated that the lands in question are already subject to a compulsory purchase order (CPO) associated with the proposed Rosslare Europort Access Road (N25 Link Road), which is being progressed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and that any “further sterilisation or loss of these lands” would prejudice the ability of Iarnród Éireann and Rosslare Europort to “deliver essential future port and rail infrastructure”.
“These lands are held for established and planned statutory functions of national importance and any additional acquisition would directly interfere with those functions and the broader public interest they serve,” added Ms Considine.
The route presented to the public on March 4 commences at the Rosslare Strand Train Station and extends in a southeasterly direction before terminating at the junction of Mary’s Terrace and the N25 in Rosslare Harbour. The proposed greenway will connect with existing and planned greenways and blueways, creating recreational pathways for use by locals and visitors.
An aerial view of the preferred route for the Rosslare greenway.
Stressing that “alternative routes need to be identified” and that she cannot support this option for the greenway, Ms Considine “respectfully” requested that WCC reconsider the selection of this Preferred Route Corridor and instead progress an alternative alignment that avoids all lands in the ownership of Iarnród Éireann/CIÉ.
Responding to Ms Considine’s concerns, a spokesperson for WCC said they believed they have found a solution “that is mutually acceptable to both parties”.
“We will continue to engage in detailed discussions with Iarnród Eireann and all potentially affected landowners during the development of the preliminary design and confirmation of the specific greenway footprint during Phase 3 of the project,” said the spokesperson.
It is anticipated that WCC will commence the final design of the greenway in Q3 of this year.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.