Protest against greenway CPOs at Leinster House this week

An aerial view of Monkstown, Co Cork, where the planned extension of the Cork-Kinsale greenway is prompting concern among residents. Picture: Chani Anderson

Landowners and homeowners will protest at the gates of Leinster House this week against the use of compulsory purchase orders to create new greenways for cyclists and walkers.

The protest on Wednesday comes as a number of groups in different parts of the country are campaigning against planned greenways and cycleways.

They include members of the group opposed to the proposed Cork to Kinsale greenway, for which a public consultation process closed in August.

A visualisation of one part of the planned greenway across the Chetwynd Viaduct to the west of Cork City. 

That project has been met with opposition by residents who say the preferred route could negatively impact their livelihoods.

Separately, plans approved last year for a 400m stretch of greenway and public realm upgrade in Monkstown, Cork Harbour, have also been the subject of opposition from local residents.

Nationally, opposition groups have come together under the umbrella of the National Greenway Action Association to voice concern about “uncertainty, lack of transparency, and threats to their property rights under current greenway development processes” across the country.

A spokeswoman for the National Greenway Action Association said: “We are not against greenways. 

Waterford Greenway crossing the viaduct in Kilmacthomas. The Déise Greenway Group is one of the groups attending the Oireachtas transport committee session on Wednesday. File picture: Dan Linehan

"We welcome initiatives that promote tourism and active travel, but using compulsory purchase orders to forcibly take private land for non-essential infrastructure is wrong.

“This isn’t about politics — it’s about people, their future, their livelihoods. We’re calling for an immediate review of the greenway code of practice, with all greenway projects put on hold until a revised code is agreed.

“We deserve meaningful consultation as a key stakeholder in greenway development.”

The demonstration will take place from 9.30am on Wednesday to coincide with an Oireachtas transport committee meeting on active travel/greenways.

That meeting will hear from stakeholders including the Irish Farmers Association, the National Greenway Action Association, and the Déise Greenway Group, as well as Transport Infrastructure Ireland.