Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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468. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he did not adhere to the independent assessment team's recommendations for the funding of greenways; the objective criteria he used in choosing the projects which received funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46741/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department held a funding call in respect of the Local Authority National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014 to 2016 in September 2013.  The first phase of the assessment process involved the use of a scoring matrix to objectively assess and shortlist projects relative to a set criteria outlined in the funding call.  10 proposals were shortlisted in December 2013.

In order to fully appraise the shortlisted projects, site visits were undertaken by members of the above team.  The site visits helped to better inform the assessment process and the recommendations for funding were subsequently provided to the then Minister for Public and Commuter Transport.  The projects selected for funding under the NCN Programme were in line with the recommendations made by the NCN Assessment Team.  Successful projects under this Programme were announced in April 2014.

The projects selected separately in May 2014 were funded from the Government's Infrastructure Stimulus Package.  It is my understanding that these projects were selected by the former Minister for Public and Commuter Transport on the basis of the local authority's capacity to deliver cycle infrastructure within a relatively short timeframe, approximately 18 months.  I understand that this approach was taken in order to maximise the stimulus effect.

The 11 proposals which received funding under the Stimulus Package are currently at various stages of planning, design and construction and my Department is keeping all projects under review.

Full details of the assessment and marking process in relation to the selection of projects funded under the NCN Funding Programme 2014 to 2016 are in the public domain following disclosure under a recent FOI request and can be viewed on the Department's website or on the Smarter Travel website