Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the availability of funding for the further development of a trail (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17693/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department is currently administering a multi annual funding programme related to the development of the National Cycle Network (NCN) to cover the period 2012 to 2016.  Significant investment has already been made in 2012 and 2013 with €7 million allocated to projects across Ireland.    This funding, which is provided to local authorities, will help to deliver cycleways in keeping with the objectives of the National Cycle Policy Framework. Under the first phase of the funding programme, Limerick County Council was provided €290,000 in 2012 towards the cost of delivering part of the Great Southern Trail from Abbeyfeale to Kilmorna.  As this phase of the programme will expire at the end of 2013, it is my intention to initiate a new funding call later this year to provide, through competitive process, a further tranche of funding for the remainder of the years to 2016. Developing further and completing the cycleway route in question is now principally a matter for Kerry County Council.  Any plans to develop the remaining part of the route progressed by  Kerry County Council could be submitted to the Department under the next phase of the NCN funding programme, once initiated, although it should be noted that requests for funding are likely to significantly exceed the funds available and it is possible that only a small proportion of the projects seeking funding will be supported.

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the availability of funding for the further development a walkway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17694/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Kerry County Council was provided with funding of €200,000 in 2012 towards the cost of delivering a cycleway from Tralee to Fenit. My Department is currently administering a multi annual funding programme related to the development of the National Cycle Network (NCN) to cover the period 2012 to 2016.  Significant investment has already been made in 2012 and 2013 with €7 million allocated to projects across Ireland. This funding, which is provided to local authorities, will help to deliver cycleways in keeping with the objectives of the National Cycle Policy Framework.  As this phase of the programme will expire at the end of 2013, it is my intention to initiate a new funding call later this year to provide, through competitive process,  a further tranche of funding for the remainder of the years to 2016. Responsibility for completing the cycleway is a matter for Kerry County Council.  If funding beyond own resources is required, then the local authority has the option to progress and submit a proposal to the Department under the next phase, once initiated, of the NCN Funding Programme.