Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The purpose of the Pathfinder Programme was to demonstrate how sustainable mobility projects can transform how we travel in our communities, and critically, how this can be done at speed given the need for urgent action. A key criterion for the initial designation as 'pathfinder' was the capacity of projects to be delivered by the end of 2025. This was made clear to all project promoters from the outset.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons including the scale of the project, planning requirements and associated timelines, it was evident that the project - despite being scaled back from its original scope - would not be completed by end 2025. The difficult decision to remove the project from the Pathfinder Programme was made on the basis of further anticipated delays communicated to the Department by Kildare County Council.

The decision to remove the Naas Mobility Network Integration project from the Pathfinder Programme was not taken lightly and follows numerous meetings over the past year between myself and officials in my Department and Kildare County Council to help progress the project.

The Pathfinder Programme is not a funding programme and as such, funding has not been revoked for the project. The ‘Pathfinder’ status does, however, provide the projects involved with priority consideration within existing programmes in order to accelerate delivery. The sponsoring Local Authority, Kildare County Council did not have any funding identified for the project at the outset. However, through engagement with officials in my Department, it was suggested that Kildare County Council should apply to the Climate Action Fund (CAF) which is administered by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Kildare County Council has not made an application to the CAF. As such, no funding has been approved or withdrawn from the project.

The decision to revoke the pathfinder status is not a reflection on the wider merits of the project. However, it no longer meets one of the key criteria for inclusion in the Pathfinder Programme. This does not mean the project cannot proceed and I would strongly urge Kildare County Council to continue to pursue the development of this project through the normal funding channels available to it.