Progress made on footpath/cycleway between Dromod and Rooskey

Cllr Sean McGowan asked what progress has been made to include provision for funding for a walkway-cycleway, from where the new footpath finishes at Killinaker as far as Dromod, in next year’s programme of works under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) or Active Travel schemes. 

"This walkway-cycleway will be the final link between the two villages of Rooskey and Dromod," said Cllr McGowan. 

A report by the Economic Development section said that the Capital Projects team are currently working on producing design drawings for two options for a proposed footpath/cycleway between the villages of Dromod and Rooskey which will include for varying levels of land take requirements at the Rooskey end. 

The response continued that the preferred project will require Part 8 Planning in order to be delivered and once developed, the preferred project will likely be submitted for consideration under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).

Cllr McGowan welcomed this news saying "if we had that done, if and when funding becomes available, it will be shovel-ready". 

Cllr McGowan also sought the support of members in again calling on Minister Helen McEntee and the Department of Justice to increase the grant assistance for community led CCTV schemes to 90% of the cost of the scheme or to a maximum of €100,000. At present the maximum grant available to communities is 60% up to a maximum of €40,000.   

Cllr Des Guckian supported the motion saying that "if the government was serious about it, they would provide the funding for the CCTV schemes and not depend on local contributions to it because it is so important that it needs to be tackled right now."