The National Transport Authority and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan have today announced spending totaling €72.8m for 340 sustainable transport projects in 19 local authorities. The funding is in addition to the multi-annual active travel investment programme announced on February 11th, which has already designated €240m to Dublin, the GDA, and regional cities.
Today’s announcement is the first ever major active travel investment programme for rural Ireland. The €72.8m announced today for rural counties, is greater than the entire 2019 funding for the national walking and cycling programme. The NTA had originally earmarked €50m for this scheme but due to the volume of project proposals being developed by local authorities it has been increased to over €70m.
Of particular note is that the funding includes an allocation of over €6.75m to Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils for active cycling and walking infrastructure.
Welcoming today’s announcement Minister of State Malcolm Noonan said: “This Active Travel funding is a welcome help for transport mobility in Carlow and Kilkenny. It is a clear commitment by this Government that we are committed to creating safer walking and cycling routes for those of all ages, to improving urban air quality, and to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
I was delighted to work with Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils and Minister Eamon Ryan to help secure this funding for both counties and I look forward to seeing these projects making an impact on the ground.”
Comments