Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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289. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to provide funding to local authorities to conduct feasibility studies for greenways and develop greenway projects to reach a shovel-ready status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16987/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department allocated funding €4.5m to 26 projects under the Carbon Tax Fund in 2020 to support feasibility, planning, design and other pre-construction work for National and Regional Greenways. Some of this funding carried over into this year contributing to the largest ever single year allocation of funding for Greenways of €63.5m. I also note that today the NTA have allocated €72.8m towards cycling and walking infrastructure projects in our rural towns and villages. We are seeing a step-change in funding for walking and cycling infrastructure all around the country, not just in our cities.

This will facilitate a pipeline of construction-ready greenway projects for the next call for proposals under the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways which should be open for proposals in quarter four of this year. It is hoped to include pre-construction and construction elements in this call.

I look forward to good quality projects being put forward under the next call for proposals for the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways as these greenways can both attract visitors and assist in regenerating rural communities, as well as providing a sustainable and healthy commuting option when linked into communities along their routes.