Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how many local authorities have published active travel plans to date. [28899/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport which local authorities have published active travel plans to date. [28900/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.

The Deputy will be aware that funding for walking and cycling infrastructure has increased significantly in recent years in line with the Government's prioritisation of active travel as a transport mode. To this end, it is important for local authorities, in liaison with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to plan their infrastructure projects to ensure that the increased investment is spent on projects that will have the greatest impact.

To this end, the NTA is working with local authorities on two specific work streams, namely CycleConnects and Pedestrian Enhancement Plans. CycleConnects will create an overall comprehensive cycle network for Ireland through the development of planned cycling links in key cities, towns and villages in each county. The cycling plans for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) have already been published, and the proposed CycleConnects plans for the 22 counties outside the GDA were published for public consultation in 2022 and are planned to be finalised later this year.

The NTA is also working with local authorities to develop Pedestrian Enhancement Plans which will identify areas where investment in footpath infrastructure and other measures to support and protect pedestrians and encourage walking as a transport mode would be best allocated. In line with targets in the my Department's National Sustainable Mobility Policy, these Plans will be delivered for the five cities by end 2023, and for regional growth centres and key towns by end 2024.

While I am aware that certain local authorities, such as Fingal County Council, have developed specific Active Travel strategies, for the majority of local authorities the development of CycleConnects and the Pedestrian Enhancement Plans will serve as a strategy for future Active Travel investment in the coming years.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport which local authorities have drawn down funding to establish active travel teams. [28901/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport which local authorities have active travel teams in place. [28902/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including resourcing.

My Department announced funding in January 2021 for up to 248 new jobs in local authorities around the country to expand walking and cycling facilities all over the country. This increase in resourcing reflects the significantly increased funding of circa €360 per annum for walking and cycling over the planned lifetime of the Government with the additional staff focused on delivering and promoting active travel in Ireland and will work across design, communication, community liaison and construction oversight. Following further demand from some local authorities, the total overall allocation was increased to 320. As of the end of March 2023, approximately 240 of these allocated resources had been recruited.

Certain local authorities had Active Travel staff in place ahead of the ongoing NTA Active Travel resourcing programme which commenced in 2021, per the requirement in the 2009 National Cycling Policy Network. I am pleased to say that all local authorities currently have Active Travel teams in place, although some have not filled their total number of allocated positions. Funding for these resources is provided through the NTA Active Travel Infrastructure Programme funding, and I have therefore referred your question in relation to funding drawdowns to that agency for a more detailed response. Please contact my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.