The Office of Public Works has commissioned a feasibility study on the creation of a Liffey Valley park, to stretch from Islandbridge in Dublin city to Straffan, Co Kildare.
The study, to be carried out by Environmental Resources Management Ireland Ltd, is expected to be completed within six months.
Last year Tánaiste Mary Harney indicated the Government's willingness to fund such a study. This followed lobbying from the Liffey Valley Park Alliance, a coalition of local community groups.
Connie Kiernan, chairwoman of the alliance, yesterday welcomed the OPW's decision and praised the efforts made by Ms Harney and Minister of State for Education Brian Lenihan to move the project forward.
The OPW has invited submissions from interested parties, which can cover issues such as recreational and heritage use, tourism potential, public access and linkage to other attractions in the area.
Eugene Keane, who was previously involved with the Brú na Bóinne project, has been appointed project co-ordinator in his capacity as heritage officer with the OPW.
The Liffey Valley contains a significant number of sites already in public ownership, including the Phoenix Park, Farmleigh, the Memorial Park in Islandbridge, Cooldrinagh Estate in Leixlip and Castletown House Estate in Celbridge. The alliance views these properties as the nucleus of the proposed park, which would be similar to the Lagan Valley Park between Belfast and Lisburn.
Part of the valley east of Lucan was the subject of a Special Amenity Area Order in 1990, but the alliance says this gives insufficient protection against development and needs to be extended.
The fragmentation of responsibility for the area between different local authorities also causes problems, the alliance says.
