Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline his policy under the Sustainable Transport Office in relation to the development of inter urban cycle routes and his views if these should be considered along bypassed national primary routes and the plans for County Laois under this plan and routes proposed to link midland towns to towns in Munster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37783/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The development of interurban cycle routes is being progressed through the National Cycle Network funding scheme. This scheme was launched in March 2012 with Local Authorities being invited to submit up to two project proposals for cycle route delivery in line with detailed assessment criteria. The exact routes submitted were entirely a matter for each Local Authority to decide. Over 50 applications for funding were received.

Funding for successful projects was announced in June, with a total of €7.032 million being allocated to fund 16 projects, each in a different Local Authority area. A wide variety of route types have been allocated funding, including canal tow path routes, routes along disused rail lines and routes which make use of bypassed national roads. While Laois County Council submitted two project applications, neither application was successful. A full list of funded projects is available at