This has been an ongoing for a long time. Back in 2014 when the compulsory purchase order, CPO, was being mooted and talked about, the management in Kerry County Council at the time were insisting on the CPO process to all the members of the council. Both myself and Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae were totally and absolutely against the CPO process because it encapsulates and gives fierce powers. I have always believed in ownership. If somebody owns land or owns a house, I believe it is theirs and that to deal with them, we have to buy it or make a deal in some way or other. The idea that someone can come on to someone's land and take as much as they want or need without any clarity for the owners to build a road or a cycleway that will be finished and opened to the public, but the owners are not yet paid, is very hurtful to many people, and indeed it is hurtful to me. Where accommodation works are needed, they have to be agreed with the owners. If a road is put through a field and that field was always open for cattle, sheep, silage, hay or whatever, to get from one side to cross the greenway as easy as you can for cattle and for tractors or whatever, accommodation works are needed and have to be provided. For greenways going forward, CPO is not the way to go because we need to have the goodwill of the people. People are entitled to and can have a different value on different properties, for example, a site for a child, for themselves, or for whatever other use they have which might place a significant value on the land over what the people dealing with them might think. Greenways sometimes finish up close to dwellings or outbuildings. This is the case in this instance and many families feel that their privacy is compromised. They feel very exposed to the public view. There is no doubt that local businesses in Glenbeigh, Rossbeigh and all of the other business down to and including Cahersiveen badly need the perk and the boost to the economy that this very scenic greenway will bring. I had to pay for any property I ever purchased before I entered it or began working it. I cannot understand why a greenway or piece of land that is to be used as an amenity is not paid for in the same way. Surely a contract should have been drawn up detailing what the land take would be and the accommodation works needed, that the farmer would be paid before any work started, with evidence provided of insurance to cover the farmer, the workers, any visitors and everyone involved.

Sentiment score: 0.01

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. Before work starts on any man's land or woman's land, it should be paid for first, and not afterwards. It is not right that they may be paid at a later time. The Minister of State is telling me that some of them will be paid this year. What I am saying is do not go into any other man's land without paying first and agreeing the accommodation works. That is my view on it anyway. To go back to when the CPO process was put in place, I was there and involved in the council meetings before Christmas. The officials came back and said they could not agree with six or seven. I begged the manager to send down more help with him, and that I would go myself, if needed, to talk to the landowners and see how those six or seven could be brought around. When the compulsory purchase order was being mooted first, I thought it was only for those six or seven. I appreciated that all the rest of them were willing to talk and to agree. As a last resort, it should have been only the ones they had trouble with and not all of them. When we see the powers that were given and that people are not paid until the works are completed, it is very wrong. I am asking the Minister of State not to allow this to happen in any other part of the country - our country. I am talking about Kerry. It is vital that the landowners are brought on board where these walkways and cycleways are going through. You will always need their goodwill and to show goodwill to the people who are coming to visit our county. That is important. I am asking the Minister of State not to let this happen in any other part of the country. These people have not been paid and their accommodation is up in the air. They need to be talked to. There is a lot of work to sort it out. I am begging the Minister of State to do so and to ensure that we bring back the goodwill of the people whose lands we are going through because it is vital to have their goodwill on our side. The greenway will help everyone. It is making life difficult for the landowners, but they have to be compensated and seen after.

Sentiment score: 0.07