Elevated coastal boardwalk plan gets €50k lift

Plans for an elevated boardwalk through the dunes from Mornington to Bettystown have received a major boost with the allocation of a grant of €50,000 for the preliminary design and planning specifications for the project.

Minister Heather Humphreys announced the funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which is used to enhanced outdoor amenities such as walkways, cycleways, rivers, lakes and beaches.

Cllr Sharon Tolan who received more than 1,00 responses to a survey she carried out on the proposals for a boardwalk, said she was delighted at the news.

She had proposed a boardwalk through the dunes over two years ago, urging Meath Co Council to apply for funding for the project.

Her survey showed there was huge interest in the project.

“When ultimately delivered, it will provide a major boost to the local economy here by attracting visitors and furthering our reputation as a destination for tourists to explore."

She said the boardwalk would help protect the dunes, provide accessibility for those with mobility issues and could link in the with Boyne Greenway and the Fingal Coastal Path.

She explained the project would involve a 2.5km boardwalk between Bettystown and Mornington.

"It would significantly enhance the beach experience for users. It would provide a connection for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users to the proposed Mornington to Drogheda Greenway. It would improve access, enhancing the natural heritage experience of walkers, providing a permanent hard walking surface of a two-metre wide boardwalk which would successfully facilitate easy access for wheelchair users, pushchairs and the elderly.