The 32-kilometre South Kerry Greenway from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen is projected to cost €72 million.
That’s according to new information released to members of Kerry County Council (KCC) today.
Chief executive of the council, Fearghal Reidy, said €21.83 million has been spent on the greenway to date, and a further €9.5 million is committed this year.
Councillors also heard that the next section of the greenway, an approximately 5km stretch of the route at Glenbeigh, will soft launch before Easter.
Further progress is expected before summer.
Mr Reidy said that work has started on the route from Kells Station to Cahersiveen town, and this is expected to open before July 2027.
He added that the most substantial sections of the greenway are expected to be completed by summer next year.
Mr Reidy said that the project involves complex engineering works, including mountain and coastal construction, as well as significant reconstruction of the existing railway platform.
A Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and an Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) found that the greenway will attract between 232,000 and 428,000 visitors annually, creating between 296 and 542 jobs.
Mr Reidy said this is comparable to opening a factory in South Kerry.
Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae raised concerns about the escalating cost of the project, particularly as not all landowners have been paid.
He questioned how confident the council could be that the €72 million figure would not increase further, warning that it could potentially reach €100 million.
He also highlighted that there are over 170 landowners along the route and sought clarity on how many have been paid, with Mr Reidy confirming that fewer than half of the transactions have been completed.
The Council stated that it aims to resolve outstanding landowner agreements during 2026.
Councillor Tommy Cahill strongly defended the project, describing it as “the single biggest and most transformative tourism project and investment ever undertaken in this county… a game-changer and a lifeline for South Kerry”.
