Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the new cycling infrastructure projects which have been approved in Fingal as of September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43938/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling and walking infrastructure. In February 2021 the NTA published details of the allocation of grants totalling €240 million under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grant Programme 2021, to support the implementation of sustainable transport projects by local authorities in Dublin, the Greater Dublin Area and the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. This represents an increase of €130 million on last year’s allocation and will support the addition of 233 new projects to the NTA’s investment programme in 2021.

Fingal County Council received an allocation of €14.87 million under this funding in 2021. The NTA has confirmed that, as of September 2021, there are 21 new cycling infrastructure projects which have been approved in Fingal, 6 of which have not yet commenced pending new staffing appointments. These projects are:

- Broadmeadow Way Greenway which will see the delivery of 5.8 kilometres of a high quality walking and cycling from Malahide to Donabate;

- The S2M Extension, which is a 7.5 kilometre Greenway from Sutton to Malahide;

- The Royal Canal Cycle Route - Fingal Route, a 7.7 kilometre Greenway from the 12th Lock in Castleknock to the Kildare border;

- The Harry Reynolds Road Cycle Track, which is a 3 kilometre cycle and pedestrian route along a main spine road in Balbriggan;

- The upgrade of Snugborough Road N3 Interchange to improve traffic management, priority bus lanes and cycleways;

- The design of the Swords Cycle Network;

- A pedestrian and cycle brief over the railway tracks south of Donabate;

- The purchase and installation of bicycle parking across the Fingal County Council area;

- Implementation of the Safe Routes to Schools Programme including assessment and design;

- The design and construction of over 4,500 metres of kerb protected cycle lanes in Hartstown, Huntstown and Mountview Road, Dublin 15;

- The design and construction of kerb protected cycle lanes along Rathingle and Rivervalley Road in Swords;

- The Design and construction of protected cycle lanes along St. Cronin's Road in Swords;

- The R132 Cycle Road from Minister's Road to Blakes Cross and Kilhedge Lane;

- The Estuary Road Cycle Route from Seatown Roundabout, Swords to Estuary Road, Malahide;

- The Churchfield Road Cycle Route in Mulhuddart;

- The upgrade of existing cycle lanes and junctions along the Snugborough Road from the National Aquatic Centre to Ongar;

- Light segregation cycle lanes along various roads from Baldoyle to Howth, including Grange Road, Warrenhouse Road/Baldoyle Road and Dublin Road/Howth Road;

- Cycle lanes from Dublin Road to Dublin Street, Baldoyle;

- Active travel infrastructure in Baldoyle delivered as part of the Fingal Coastal Way and Donabate Urban Framework proposals;

- A feasibility study for a cycleway linking Clonsilla train station to Damastown Industrial Estate via a new bridge over the N3;

- And finally, a feasibility study for a cycleway linking Clonee to Blanchardstown via Littlepace and Huntstown.

I understand that the total estimated cost for these projects over their lifetime is approximately €125 million. These projects are but an example of the robust progress that we are seeing in local authorities across the country in relation to the development of Active Travel infrastructure, and I look forward to the delivery of these projects in the coming months and years.