Movement expected soon on south Wicklow greenway project
Phase 2 involved extensive work on assessing the impact of identified project constraints; the Phase 2: Options Selection report has been submitted by Wicklow County Council to TII and are currently being reviewed by officials.
Subject t-Wexford TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin has said it is now important that the project doesn't face any further delays.
'This project is of huge importance to County Wicklow, in terms of health and wellbeing, local recreation and tourism. I am pleased that it should progress to Stage 3 for the autumn and hopefully through the remaining construction phases soon after.
'I also raised this delay directly with Minister Paschal Donohoe in the chamber of Leinster House last month and is a flagship project that I intend to pursue until we see it in place.'
'In such a scenic area, it will no doubt attract large numbers of people from throughout Ireland and indeed from further afield.' he added.
Funding for the Greenways programme is reviewed on an annual basis by the Department of Transport.
Investment in greenways and active travel projects is also subject to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals.
Greenway schemes in County Wicklow were allocated €1,650,000 in 2025, with €500,000 going towards the Arklow to Shillelagh project.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Free e-waste collection day in Wicklow scheduled for August
The event, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Wicklow County Council and Blessington Allotments, takes place on Saturday, August 23 from 10am-4pm in McGreals Primary Care Centre in Blessington. Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches. The event will also help the county meet national e-waste recycling targets for 2025. Some 7.2kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Wicklow last year – less than the WEEE Ireland collection area average of 9.5kg per person that same year. WEEE Ireland warns that the nation needs to meet new forthcoming EU targets to recycle at least 25pc of our annual consumption of critical raw materials from e-waste. 'In Wicklow, and across Ireland, we are buying more electrical goods than ever – with people purchasing an average 25kg per head in 2024 compared to 16kgs just six years ago,' said WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan. 'With old items still lying around many households we want to offer the opportunity to recycle these for free. People in Wicklow have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 1,162 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2024, and we want to encourage that trend. 'An average of 96pc of all e-waste that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe. 'Most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals in higher concentrations than primary resources. These stocks of resources are the urban mines of the future, so our recycling efforts can have a significant impact on the environment.' In 2024, the equivalent of 206,521 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,130 hectares of trees. WEEE Ireland accounts for over two thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,355 producer members. ADVERTISEMENT In July, WEE Ireland in collaboration with the Blessington Allotments Campaign and Blessington Tourist Office, launched an e-waste initiative providing 200 free battery recycling boxes. 'Recycling e-waste is incredibly beneficial for both the environment and the economy,' said Mr. Donovan. 'Together, we are diverting waste from landfill, recovering raw materials for reuse and ensuring hazardous materials are safely and responsibly disposed of. We look forward to working with Wicklow householders to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2025.'
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
On average, people in Ireland are working less since the Covid-19 pandemic
A SHIFT TOWARDS remote working is likely to have contributed to a drop in average working hours since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report from the Department of Finance. The report shows that Ireland's labour market has had a 'remarkable' recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and is actually in a stronger position than it was before, with employment at record highs in 2024. This has been driven by inward migration and increased participation in the labour market, with the increased participation largely coming from groups who traditionally have a lower attachment to the labour force, namely women and older workers. This expansion of the labour force has been tempered, however, by a decline in average hours worked. The report states that while further research is needed to find out the exact reasons for this decline, it suggests that it may be a result of remote working. Between 1998 and 2009, average hours worked declined consistently, falling by 13% from around 37 to 32 hours per week. However, the report states that it increased again after the economic crash, with average hours worked rising again over the decade that followed. Advertisement The bulk of this growth took place in the years leading up to the pandemic (2015-2019), with average hours worked increasing by 3.5%. This contrasts with other European countries, where average hours worked continued to decline in France, Germany, Italy and Spain during this period. Following the pandemic, average hours worked dropped significantly in the immediate aftermath, falling by over 7% in 2020. As the economy reopened, average hours worked did not recover and remained 7% below their 2019 level in 2024. The report states that, as a result, to get the same level of labour input now requires 7% more employees than before. Overall, however, total hours worked have increased by 10%during this period, with population growth and increased labour market participation offsetting the decline in average hours worked. Welcoming the report, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said: 'Just over five years ago, during the peak of the pandemic, the economic outlook was shrouded in uncertainty with large sections of our economy forced to shut down overnight. At that time, around 1.2 million people were dependent on the State for some form of income or job support, and there was a fear that the pandemic would leave lasting scars on our economy. 'Thankfully, that economic scarring was avoided. Today, the labour market is in a stronger position than before the pandemic with record levels of employment and an unemployment rate below 5 per cent for over three years. As this publication outlines, record levels of female labour force participation have made a significant contribution to our post-pandemic recovery.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
Budget 2026 day set for October amid rising US tariff pressure and deficit uncertainty
BUDGET 2026 is set to be unveiled on Tuesday, 7 October, in Dublin against a backdrop of rising international uncertainty for the Irish economy. The Government has outlined a €9.4 billion package as part of the Summer Economic Statement, including €7.9 billion in additional public spending and €1.5 billion in tax cuts. However, this package was agreed upon before the recent introduction of 15% tariffs on exports to the United States. This new rate poses a serious threat to Irish trade, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. US President Donald Trump has also hinted at even higher tariffs in the future, mainly due to the trade surplus between the two nations. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, the Government is maintaining its commitment to long-term investment and fiscal stability. Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have ruled out one-off cost-of-living payments, insisting that Budget 2026 will prioritise sustainability over short-term relief. Their approach reflects caution in a fragile global environment, with the business lobby Ibec and other economic observers urging a measured and prudent strategy. The Summer Economic Statement stated that €5.9 billion of the increased expenditure will go to current spending, with €2 billion directed towards capital investment under the National Development Plan. However, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) has raised concerns about the realism of these projections. It warns that spending overruns are likely in 2026, pointing to evidence that current spending this year has already exceeded budget targets by as much as €2 billion. IFAC also projects a budget deficit of nearly €11 billion next year which is about 3.2% of GNI, excluding corporate tax windfalls. It has criticised the government's signalling that the budget package could be reduced if the global trade environment worsens, arguing that this runs counter to standard economic practice, which recommends increased support during periods of downturn. Nevertheless, Ireland's tax revenues remain strong. Corporate tax receipts have already reached €16 billion this year, with further growth expected in 2026 due to changes in international tax rules. Income tax and VAT revenues are also holding steady, giving the government some room to manoeuvre despite looming deficits. All eyes will be on budget day on October 7th and the preceding weeks for any changes in the US President's tariff rates, which have an outsized impact on the very US-reliant Irish economy. See More: Economy, Irish Budget, Paschal Donohoe, US Tariffs
