Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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69. 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. [14072/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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70. 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. [14073/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together.

My Department initially announced funding for up to 248 new posts in local authorities to expand walking and cycling facilities all over the country. Following discussions with local authorities and the National Transport Authority (NTA), I wrote to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) in January 2021 confirming an allocation of a higher figure of 282 posts around the country. This figure was subsequently revised once again in April 2021 to 320 posts, given the required increase in capacity particularly in local authorities outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities which did not previously have an Active Travel Programme in place.

This significant increase in resourcing reflects the €1.8 billion in funding committed to 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. 

Recruitment processes have met with varying degrees of success, with some local authorities finding it difficult to fill certain vacant roles due to a number of factors including a shortage of applicants given the strength of the economy and the impact of both COVID-19 and Brexit on the traditional movement of potential recruits around Europe. The NTA has been working closely with all the local authorities to deliver the additional resourcing plan for Active Travel, and reports progress on this recruitment to my Department on a quarterly basis.

The latest figures from the NTA show that as of 1 March 2023, 241 Active Travel staff are employed within local authorities across the country. The table below shows a breakdown of recruitment to date in each local authority.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of the amount each county council has drawn down from its allocated active travel funding in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of the €289 million allocated to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022 that has been spent; if he will provide a breakdown of where the funding has been spent to date in each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14076/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a breakdown of the €290 million assigned to walking and cycling that has been allocated to each county council; if he will provide information on the amount of funding that has been spent to date in 2023 by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 to 74, inclusive, together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who have responsibility for allocating this funding to the local authorities for development of selected projects in each area.

Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to that agency for a more detailed answer in relation to allocations to and spend by local authorities in 2022 and so far in 2023. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.