€7m scenic coastal path on the fast track

An application for a foreshore licence in respect of a €7 million coastal walkway between Salthill Promenade and Silver Strand is being fast-tracked by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
Two weeks ago, Galway City Council lodged an application for the licence, which would see the construction of scenic pathways and footbridges spanning the shoreline between the two popular attractions.
Galway West TD Brian Walsh (Fine Gael) this week confirmed that the application had been received by the Department and was being considered in the context of coastal protection, allowing the process to be expedited.
“The project represents a great opportunity to construct a fantastic amenity and enhance the tourism value of areas west of the city. But it was important that the application be considered as a coastal protection project to avoid long delays,” he said.
“I raised this matter in the Dáil last week and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government confirmed that, as the project concerns coastal protection works, it is being progressed as a priority.”
The foreshore licence application process can be extremely slow, with some projects waiting years for a decision from the Department. However, Deputy Walsh said there would be no such delays in this instance.
“There is undoubted value to this project from the perspective of tourism and amenity. It’s a chance to maximise the potential of Salthill, Silver Strand and the scenic area in between.
“But it’s also vital as a coastal protection scheme, which is urgently required to ensure that Silver Strand beach and Lough Rusheen are not lost to erosion. I’m glad that the Department has accepted this and the application is being progressed on that basis.”
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.