Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocated for active travel spending in 2022; the estimated number of kilometres of new cycling infrastructure that this will deliver in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25849/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government committed to an investment of €360 million per annum in walking and cycling over the lifetime of the Government. I consider this investment to be hugely beneficial to our society, our health and our environment, and in particular will contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions as per the Government's Climate Action Plan.  It will support projects across the country, in both urban and rural Ireland, as this Government seeks to change the nature of transport in this country.

I was delighted to announce funding of €289m through the National Transport Authority (NTA) earlier this year for approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects, in addition to an allocation of €60 million through Transport Infrastructure Ireland for approx. 40 Greenways projects. In addition my department allocated €4m to TII for delivery of cycling/walking infrastructure along national roads and the remainder of the €360m funding is used by my Department to fund smaller scale projects such as cycle right cycle training ,bike week and Interreg cross border projects.

In relation to the estimated number of kilometres of new cycling infrastructure that will be delivered this year, I have referred your question to the NTA who have responsibility for delivery of Active Travel projects and to TII who have responsibility for the delivery of Greenways projects.

Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.