Royal Canal Greenway Phase 4 - FAQs

Back to Royal Canal Greenway: From Phibsborough to Ashtown

  • 4.2km of Greenway to be provided from Phibsborough to Ashtown on the Northern bank of the canal.
  • A Segregated Greenway for cyclists and pedestrians is proposed from the existing Railway overpass west of Coke Oven Cottages to east of the Village Centre in Ashtown. A 2.5m two way cycle route and 2m pedestrian footpath will be provided.
  • Shared space (4.5m-4.8m) will be provided from Phibsborough Road to beyond the Coke Oven Cottages to facilitate access and deliveries for residents and access for maintenance purposes.
  • Shared space (5.5m) will be provided at the Coke Oven cottages to facilitate resident’s deliveries. 
  • Bat Sensitive lighting to be provided along the route
  • CCTV infrastructure to be installed along the route.
  • Contaminated material associated with former railway engineering works removed from the canal.
  • ESB Infrastructure to be installed along the route

Part VIII-Ref. 2870/15 was granted in 2015 for the Royal Canal Phase 2-3 & 4, an amending Part VIII for Phase 4 will be lodged in 2023.

As in any Part VIII process, the amending Part VIII will go through a statutory public consultation. The proposals will be on public display for four weeks and the public can make observations for up to six weeks. A report will be presented to councillors at the end of this process. At that point, it will be a matter for the councillors to make a decision on whether the amendments should be implemented

The existing route along the canal towpath is generally too narrow, at 2m or less over extensive lengths, and is not fully fit-for-purpose. This gives rise to a low quality of service for users. 

Suitable widening is required to cater for an expected increase in the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists that will use the route for amenity and commuting purposes as cycling increases in popularity, in line with Government Policy.

Greenways have a range of functions and attract different users with differing needs, including pedestrians, joggers, people with mobility aids and dog walkers, among others.

The needs of all users are being considered when designing active travel schemes whilst being mindful of localised constraints, such as limited available space for full separation paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

On the Royal Canal Greenway (Phase 4), it is proposed to segregate cyclists and pedestrians from the existing railway overpass west of Coke Oven Cottages to east of the Village Centre in Ashtown. Shared space will be required at pinch points along this section of the route such as at the Dublin-Maynooth Railway underpass. 

Shared space is also provided from Phibsborough Road to beyond the Coke Oven Cottages to facilitate access and deliveries for residents. Access is also required for maintenance purposes.

Overall, the project aims to reduce the impact on Biodiversity. 

An Ecological Impact assessment (EcIA) has been carried out and mitigation measures recommended. This EcIA will be published as part of the Amending Part VIII package.

Existing hedge and boundary planting are to be cut back as required to allow for fence installation. Existing remaining scrub and planting is to be enhanced with new native hedge line planting and enhancement mix.

The realignment of the canal is proposed as an alternative to the requirement for third party land acquisition, significantly reducing the impact on hedge rows in the pinch point areas. 

Impacts of realigning the canal have been addressed as part of an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA). The EcIA was undertaken to assess potential impacts on key ecological receptors and to propose mitigation measures.

Surveys carried as part of the EcIA include the following

•           Otter Surveys

•           Bat Activity Surveys

•           Badger Surveys

•           Habitat, Botanical & Invasive Species Surveys

•           Aquatic Plant Surveys

•           Invertebrate Surveys

A Derogation Licence for Otters has been applied for from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Additionally, in consultation with the NPWS, it has been agreed to commission a suite of annual surveys on otters, molluscan invertebrates and macrophytes until 2026 along the canal from Kilcock to River Liffey.

This EcIA will be available as part of the amending Part VIII package of documents once published.

An Ecological Impact Assessment Report (EcIA), which will accompany the proposed amending Part VIII application, outlines the impacts of the scheme during construction and operation of the Greenway. The report outlines the proposed mitigation measures to be employed to avoid or minimise impacts during the construction and operation of the scheme. 

A Bat Activity Survey was carried out in May 2021 & September 2022. The scheme will incorporate lighting sensitive to the needs of bats, with a lighting trial to establish lighting, design-timing, colour and lux levels.

In consultation with NPWS, it has been agreed to commission a suite of annual surveys on otters, molluscan invertebrates and macrophytes until 2026 along the canal from Kilcock to River Liffey.

The lands on which the scheme is being constructed is mainly in the ownership of Waterways Ireland, with smaller sections in the ownership of Irish Rail. 

DCC are required to acquire a licence from WI to undertake the scheme works.

The design of the proposed works allows for 2 barges to pass everywhere. The minimum width is over 10m everywhere, which allows 2 x 4m wide barges to pass with some additional space. 

The navigation window imposes restrictions on when in-stream works can be undertaken. In practice, this means that the watercourse will be unaffected over the late spring and summer months.

Instream works will only occur outside the navigation season.