Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of the 248 new posts for active travel teams in local authorities that have been filled; the number that currently remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11956/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of the 248 new posts for active travel teams in local authorities by county, in tabular form; the number that have been filled to date; the number of vacancies at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11957/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are measures in place to encourage and support the expenditure of the public monies provided by his Department via the National Transport Authority for sustainable and active travel projects such as the provision of additional capacity in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11961/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68 and 72 together.

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 additional 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 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.

It is important to note that there is strong competition for staff given the strength of the economy and the fact that COVID-19 has impacted the traditional movement of potential recruits around Europe.

Details of the current staffing levels are set out in the table below.