Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Budget 2019 provided a total allocation of approximately €61million to the two principal active travel programmes and the Greenways programme.  The breakdown of those allocations was approximately €48 million toward active travel and €13 million toward greenways.

These allocations are used for the delivery of projects under these multi-annual capital expenditure programmes.  The timing of expenditure on individual projects within programmes such as these are, by their nature, dependent on a number of variables and each year the majority of the allocated funding tends to be drawn down toward the year end.  Following each year, overall programme expenditure is reported publicly and to the Oireachtas through the Department's audited Appropriation Account.

The Deputy will be aware that allocations made available under these specific funding programmes do not capture all public expenditure dedicated to active travel (or leisure-orientated walking and cycling), as it also benefits from funding provided under BusConnects, the roads programmes, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and from the tax incentive available under the Bike-to-Work Scheme.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am aware that there has been some confusion in relation to the allocations provided under Budget 2020 toward active travel and greenways development.

Budget 2020 has allocated €91million to the two principal active travel funding programmes which are administered through the National Transport Authority. This is a significant increase on Budget 2019's allocation of €48million toward the same two programmes.

Separately there is also a €23million allocation for the Greenways programme, which supports leisure-orientated walking and cycling.  This is a significant increase on Budget 2019's allocation of €13million toward the same programme.

Together these three funding programmes total €114million next year, and that includes the €9million additional allocation, split evenly across active travel and greenways programmes, which arises from the introduction of carbon tax measures.

The Deputy will be aware that allocations made available under these funding programmes do not capture all public expenditure dedicated to active travel (or leisure-orientated walking and cycling);  it also benefits from funding provided under BusConnects, the roads programmes, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and from the tax incentive available under the Bike-to-Work Scheme.

I have no doubt the Deputy welcomes these increased allocations and looks forward, as I do, to the delivery of a number of important projects across the country in 2020.