The political pressure to review the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in the development of greenways has cranked up a gear on local authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed concern in the Dáil last week in relation to the use of CPOs for recreational infrastructure, while the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, described the practice as “really divisive”.

“Once you get into the CPO, you are in trouble in terms of any greenway,” the Taoiseach admitted in the Dáil last week.

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He was responding to a question from west Cork TD Michael Collins regarding the development of a greenway from Cork to Kinsale which has sparked strong opposition among local landowners.

Reservations around the use of CPOs for greenways were also voiced by the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon at the recent annual general meeting of the Irish Natura and Hill Famers Association (INHFA).

“We should really avoid the use of CPOs for such measures [greenways] because they are really divisive,” Minister Heydon said.

While Minister Heydon stressed that greenways can have “really impressive and positive impacts” on local communities, he maintained that farmer engagement was invariably absent where CPOs are employed.

What you have is “farmers being vilified in their local communities” as they are blamed for blocking development which others support.

This results in serious and long-lasting community divisions, the minister argued.

“The scars, as I know is the case in Kerry and other areas as well, are left for a generation afterwards between neighbours, between communities, and that’s what I don’t like to see happening.”

The INHFA president Pheilim Molloy welcomed the comments by both the Taoiseach and Minister Heydon.

However, the farm body called for urgent changes in how greenways are developed.

“We are adamant that future projects should only ever be considered where there is support in the community and agreement has been reached with landowners for permissive access which is how the first greenway project was developed,” Molloy pointed out.

“It is now time for the TII and the county councils to immediately review their approach and move away from the hated and divisive CPO option,” he maintained.