Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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570. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects proposed under the smarter travel initiative for 2015 for towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Smarter Travel Initiative is a €65 million multi-annual funding programme being administered by my Department over the period 2012 to 2016.  There are three main funding programmes being delivered under the Initiative, namely Smarter Travel Areas, Active Travel Towns and the National Cycle Network.

Applications were submitted by Galway County Council under the  second phase of the Active Travel Towns Funding Programme 2014 - 2016 for the towns of Gort, Loughrea and Athenry.  However, given the considerable interest in the programme and the significant number of proposals submitted, it was not possible to award funding to any of these towns on this occasion.

However, under the National Cycle Network Programme Funding 2014 - 2016, Galway County Council was awarded funding of €2 million earlier this year for the construction of a greenway between Moycullen and Galway City.  It is anticipated that this 12km greenway will be completed by the end of 2016.