Project Background

Providing Green Infrastructure is a key objective of the current Fingal Development Plan (2017-2023), and the Royal Canal Urban Greenway plays an integral part in achieving that objective. The provision of coherent and integrated green infrastructure for Fingal will provide a range of environmental, social and economic benefits to the County, having a positive impact on:

• Biodiversity
• Parks, Open Space and Recreation
• Sustainable Water Management
• Archaeological and Architectural Heritage
• Landscape

The Fingal Development Plan outlines numerous policies and objectives to plan and develop cycle routes across the County, incorporating sensitive natural and built heritage sites whilst achieving a balance between conservation of such sites and public uses such as leisure, recreation and tourism.

In 2013, the NTA published the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan, consisting of the Urban Network, Inter-Urban Network and Green Route Network for each of the seven Local Authority areas comprising the Greater Dublin Area (GDA):

• Dublin City Council (DCC)
• South Dublin County Council (SDCC)
• Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC)
• Fingal County Council (FCC)
• Meath County Council (MCC)
• Kildare County Council (KCC)
• Wicklow County Council (WCC)

The Cycle Network Plan identified and determined in a consistent, clear and logical manner, the following cycle networks within the GDA:

• The Urban Cycle Network at the Primary, Secondary and Feeder level;
• The Inter-Urban Cycle Network, linking the relevant sections of the Urban Network and including the elements of the National Cycle Network within the GDA. The Inter-Urban Network also includes linkages to key transport locations outside of urban areas  such as airports and ports; and
• The Green Route Network that are cycle routes developed predominately for tourist, recreational and leisure purposes.

Benefits of the Scheme

The Royal Canal Urban Greenway will provide benefits including:

• Promoting recreational activities
• Promoting physical activity, health and wellbeing
• Facilitating sustainable modes of travel such as cycling and walking, a key improvement for busy urban and suburban areas which can reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality
• Enhancing and protecting the historic Royal Canal
• Providing safe and attractive spaces for recreation which can be enjoyed by all members of the local community
• Promoting local pride in the area through placemaking
• Encouraging visitors and tourists to enjoy the local area
• Improving connectivity between Blanchardstown, Coolmine, Clonsilla and Hansfield and the wider Fingal area
• Improved connectivity to the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network
• Encouraging tourism to support both local and regional economies
• Fulfilling regional and national development plan objectives

North Vs South Route Options Assessment Summary

The below graphic provides a summary of the key challenges and benefits determined for both North and South routes during the route assessment phase. To download a PDF of this graphic click here.

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