Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update of progress made on projects which are being funded under the sustainable transport measures programme, including the allocated funding; the estimated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6841/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department works with the NTA to improve smarter travel, with the NTA funding local authority schemes in the Greater Dublin Area and regional cities, while my Department provides direct funding in the other counties and towns. In addition to NTA funding, we are investing €65 million in sustainable transport over the 5 year period 2012-2016, the majority of which will be invested in cities and towns around the country with funding allocated under key programmes such as Smarter Travel Areas (€23 million), Active Travel Towns and the National Cycle Network delivery programme.   

Work within each of the three STAs of Limerick, Westport and Dungarvan commenced in 2012 and is due for completion in December 2016.  Funding to support implementation of walking and cycling strategies under the Active Travel Towns programme was allocated to 12 towns in 2012.  Works are completed in  Loughrea and Ballina/Killaloe with a further ten  projects due  for completion by the end of this year.  In addition a number of local authorities  have now developed  walking and cycling strategies for their respective towns with a view to securing funding under a new competitive round of Active Travel Towns funding to be announced later this year.  

Furthermore 16 projects received funding allocations in 2012 of €7.2 millon specifically for cycling infrastructure under a programme to invest in the National Cycle Network.  7 of these projects are now completed -   the Ennistymon to Lahinch route in Clare, the  Donegal town to Newtowncunningham route in Donegal, the Killarney to Fossa route in Kerry, the Great Southern Trail Abbeyfeale to Kilmorna route in Limerick, the  N52  cycleway extension in Tipperary,  the Tullamore to Moate  route in Offaly/Westmeath and  the City Outer Ring Road to Tramore route  in Waterford.  A further 9 projects are scheduled for completion by the end of this year before which a new competitive round of funding under NCN will be announced. Details of all the projects funded are available on .

In addition to investment in infrastructure my Department continues to fund programmes to support and promote smarter travel, including the annual Bike Week, the travel component of the Green Schools programme and the Smarter Travel Workplaces/Smarter Campuses initiative.