Laois TD calls for end of controversial Compulsory Purchase Orders for greenway land

Laois TD Willie Aird has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to stop Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) in relation to the development of greenways.

Speaking at this week's meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Deputy Aird urged TII "you're stopping progress by having it there."

Representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association, National Greenway Action Association, Deise Greenway Group, and TII joined the Joint Committee on Transport to discuss active travel and greenway development. 

The Laois TD shared his own personal experience as a farmer who was issued a CPO on his land, describing it as "the worst single thing that can happen to anybody." He said: "The minute that letter came through it was panic stations with me and everybody else that was associated with it."

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Deputy Aird emphasised that greenways are positive contributions to communities and that there is no need to issue CPOs in order to ensure their development. Rather, it impedes the process by distressing landowners. 

He told the Oireachtas Committee: "Please do not walk into a farmer and tell him, if you do not agree with me, I'll serve a CPO on you. That doesn't work, it's not going to work, and you get the backs up of everybody on that greenway straight away."

The TD said that progress on greenways must come through agreement, and called on TII to adopt a more collaborative approach towards planning.

O’Connor of TII responded to Deputy Aird's point by saying he does not disagree with him. However, he noted: "CPO should not be the calling card but is required ultimately."

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