Cycleway announced before landowners consulted

The Government had not even begun negotiations with up to 120 landowners before its pre-local and European elections’ announcements earlier this year, for a €4m greenway-cycleway on the Ring of Kerry.

Former junior tourism minister Alan Kelly, now the environment minister, had described the proposed project as “one of the world’s most dramatic cycleways”.

The proposed 26km route is along the old Great Southern Railway line between Glenbeigh and Caherciveen.

But all the land is privately owned, and includes family gardens.

Mr Kelly had made the dramatic announcement in south Kerry in April last, just before the elections.

But Kerry Co Council confirmed talks with landowners did not commence until July and, already the proposed project is under financial strain.

It emerged that no Government funding was made available for land purchase.

Mr Kelly had heralded the project as one of the country’s and, indeed, one of the world’s major greenways — and said it was one of three national cycling projects earmarked to share €11m.

It had been one of a number of large announcements made by various government ministers in the southwest in the run-up to the elections.

However, according to a report, released this week, by the county council, “the project is under significant financial pressure”. It emerged that no agreement with the landowners had been reached before the project was announced last April and meetings with landowners only began in July.

“In the grant funding [€3.4m, along with a further €400,000 provided by the council] received from the department, no provision was made for the purchase of land,” the report noted.

“As a result, the project is under significant financial pressure and any increase on the current offer would have serious implications for the ability of the council to complete the scheme within the funding available.”

Kerry County Council has taken over negotiating the project originated by the South Kerry Development Partnership.

Council management assured members it was committed to the project which had huge potential.

However, the council said “100% backing” was needed from local land owners.

About €15,000 per acre is being offered for direct purchase of the lands.

Alternatively, under a 99-year lease arrangement, landowners would receive €10,000 an acre, according to reliable sources.

Calling for “adequate compensation”, Cllr Michael Cahill — who had sought an update on the project — said payments should be increased as most of the landowners did not own an acre of the proposed route.

“For the vast majority of these landowners, only a short strip of land is involved.

“But we are talking about cutting through lawns, back-yards and, in some cases, creating a divide in land that has been expensively reclaimed. Very few parcels of land would amount to an acre,” he said.

“The vast majority, although not all those who now own the old rail line, were in favour of the project, which has enormous tourism potential for the area.

“The project is as good as a factory to South Kerry,” Mr Cahill said.

He also said negotiations should have been finalised with landowners, or at least under way, before the project was announced.