Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am pleased to have secured an increase in funding for cycling infrastructure and greenways as part of the mid term review of the Capital Plan. 

The awarding of funding to individual projects will be a matter for the National Transport Authority in the case of cycling infrastructure projects within the Greater Dublin Area and the Regional Cities of Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway. For projects that fall within the parameters of the upcoming Greenways Strategy, I anticipate that recommendations regarding funding criteria will be set out in the Strategy when it is finalised.

There is likely to be some cross-over in relation to Greenway projects within the Greater Dublin Area and the Regional Cities.  However this has yet to be determined and will form a crucial part of the work in finalising the Greenways Strategy.

The East Coast Trail forms part of the Greenway Network of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan, which was published by the National Transport Authority in 2014. The East Coast Trail includes an indicative route for a Greenway from Drogheda to Arklow, including a section from Balbriggan to Sutton. To date the only application made for funding to my Department for the route in Fingal has been for the Broadmeadow Estuary Greenway that would link Malahide to Donabate and Newbridge House.

That application was not funded due to the cost of the project exceeding the funding available at that time. I understand that Fingal County Council has subsequently progressed their work on this project with funding from the National Transport Authority and expects to be in a position to submit an application to An Bord Pleanála in the coming months.

Once the Greenways Strategy has been completed I expect to be in a position to announce a new round of funding for Greenways, which will be based on the criteria set out in the Strategy. Those projects that have planning permission in place will benefit from their ability to commence work quickly.