Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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235. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of the 248 posts for active travel staff in local authorities announced in January 2021 that remain unfilled by local authority. [7371/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department announced funding in January 2021 for up to 248 new jobs in local authorities to expand walking and cycling facilities all over the country. This increase in resourcing reflects the €1.8bn of funding committed for walking and cycling over the planned lifetime of the Government. The additional staff will be dedicated to delivering and promoting Active Travel in Ireland and will work across design, communication, community liaison and construction oversight.

As of 1 January 2022 I can confirm that 117 staff have been recruited to work in Active Travel in local authorities across the country. In addition, 39 positions are currently ‘pending’, meaning interviews have either been completed or are ongoing, and the positions are expected to be filled very shortly. Once these pending positions are filled, the total staff numbers will be 156. Recruitment processes are ongoing and it is expected that all the remaining positions will be filled in 2022.