Donegal councillors call for long‑term maintenance plans for new Greenways

Donegal County Council has agreed that future Greenway projects should include a dedicated maintenance plan and budget for the next 10 to 20 years.

The motion, raised by Muff‑based Councillor Terry Crossan, highlighted that existing Greenways are already suffering from overgrowth due to a lack of funding. He noted that €17,000 had been redirected in the Inishowen Municipal District to carry out urgent Greenway works.

Councillor Martin Scanlon (Lifford‑Stranorlar MD) amended the motion, urging that maintenance costs be built into new proposals, similar to the arrangements for hospitals, schools and the Letterkenny courthouse, where contractors maintain the assets for a set period.

Supporting the motion, Councillor Martin McDermott warned that the poor condition of current Greenways makes it hard to attract new developments, especially from farmers and landowners. He called for a “strong conversation” with stakeholders and cited a recent meeting of about 100 farmers in Carndonagh about a proposed Muff‑to‑Gleneely Greenway.

Roads Director Bryan Cannon confirmed that while Transport Infrastructure Ireland funds the capital construction of six Greenways at various stages, there is no specific allocation for their upkeep. He said the Roads Service is currently using road‑maintenance budgets for Greenway work, which strains resources already under pressure.

Cannon welcomed the prospect of a dedicated maintenance budget, either through the 2027 Revenue Budget or external funding, to ensure the long‑term viability of Donegal’s Greenway network.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Richard REVEL / Pexels.