Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be provided to expand active travel projects in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8964/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.

The Programme for Government committed around €360 million per annum to walking and cycling across the lifetime of the Government. The vast majority of this funding is allocated to the National Transport Authority (NTA) through the Department of Transport for its Active Travel Infrastructure Programme.

Given the NTA's success in ramping up the number of Active Travel projects over the last few years, the number of projects being progressed now exceeds the level of funding available to the NTA. Accordingly, the NTA is unable to fully fund all proposed Active Travel projects and has to prioritise certain projects over others in order to remain within its allocated budget.

In general, the main focus of active travel investment will be to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips, in villages, towns and cities, particularly in designated growth settlements, with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel.

Of the 2025 funding, Roscommon County Council have received €2.75 million, with Galway County Council receiving €2.1 million. Additionally, €8 million has been allocated to Galway City Council.

In determining funding allocations, the NTA take into account the following considerations:

• Design quality of scheme, taking account of widths, gradients, continuity, interaction with parking bays/loading bays/bus stops, level of segregation and junction/crossing design;
• Likely level of usage and overall benefits;
• Integration and level of importance to an overall network;
• Alignment with national, regional and local plans and planning policy;
• Cost and value of scheme; and
• Availability of co-funding from other funding sources.