Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1752. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grant aid available to community groups that wish to construct a cycle lane to encourage tourists to explore different parts of counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/16]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1753. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the areas in counties Cavan and Monaghan which have been provided with a cycle lane to date, in tabular form; if there are areas in Cavan and Monaghan where cycle lanes have yet to be implemented; when works might begin in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24644/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1752 and 1753 together.

​Funding for the development of cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and the Regional Cities is provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and for all other areas, including Counties Cavan and Monaghan, funding is awarded by my Department to local authorities by way of a competitive process.  Funding for cycling infrastructure is not provided directly to community groups. It is possible, however, for local groups to work with their local authority in developing proposals. 

In recent years, funding from my Department for cycling infrastructure outside the GDA and the Regional Cities has been made available under the National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016, a Government Stimulus Package for infrastructural development in 2014 and under the Active Travel Towns Programme.  All funding under these programmes to the end of 2016 is allocated and consideration is currently being given to the further development of such programmes post-2016.  Any future calls for projects under future​ programmes will be open to all local authorities.

​Depending on the scale of any proposed project it is possible that some financial support could be sourced from the region's LEADER group.

​​Details of cycling projects in Cavan and Monaghan which have been awarded funding by my Department since 2009 are attached.  In the case of the Active Travel Towns mentioned, cycling infrastructure may have been just one element of the overall project. With regard to cycling projects yet to be delivered, it is a matter for each local authority to plan the delivery of cycling infrastructure in its jurisdiction and the Deputy should direct her request for information on future plans directly to the relevant local authority.

Separately, Monaghan County Council are part of the project team led by Waterways Ireland who submitted an application to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) under INTERREG VA for the cross border Ulster Canal Greenway Phase 2 linking Smithborough Village in Co. Monaghan to Middleton in Co. Armagh. I understand that a decision on this application is pending.