Greenway funding request falls short but Mayoral U-turn boosts campaign

FUNDING may not be forthcoming but campaigners for a Greenway in Tuam got a boost this week when it received the backing of a senior member of Galway County Council.
Cathaoirleach of the Council Cllr Peter Roche has rowed back on his opposition to the proposal and is set to relinquish his membership of a group campaigning to have rail services reintroduced along the Tuam to Athenry railway line, which is the proposed Greenway route.
The development followed an unsuccessful motion by Tuam councillor Shaun Cunniffe to use his discretionary €18,500 Notice of Motion (NoM) funds to finance a €25,000 feasibility study for the project.
Cllr Cunniffe raised the matter at last week’s council meeting, where members approved a €104 million budget for 2016.
Despite the support of fellow Tuam members, Cllr Karey McHugh who agreed to provide the balance of funding from her NoM funds, and Cllr Donagh Killilea, the motion was defeated.
Council CEO Kevin Kelly advised that Notice of Motion funds were desperately needed to support the council’s local road maintenance programme.
Cllr Cunniffe said the increase in support for the Greenway at council level is encouraging even if the funding is not being provided.