Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current cycling and pedestrian infrastructures in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17346/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.

The Government is committed to the provision of improved and expanded walking and cycling infrastructure both in our urban centres and in towns and villages across Ireland. In 2021, the Active Travel Infrastructure Programme was expanded to include the 19 local authority areas outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities. Since then, over €1 billion has been invested in walking and cycling projects across the country.

Over 1,000 km of walking and cycling projects has been delivered around the country to date, through various interventions such as cycle lanes, footpaths, junction improvements and bridges. In line with the Government's commitment of investing €360 million per annum across Active Travel and Greenway programmes to the end of the decade, €290 million has been allocated to the NTA's Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme in 2026, in addition to €67 million for TII's Greenway Programme and National Roads Active Travel infrastructure.

As part of the allocations determination, the NTA and TII liaises with each local authority to fully understand the projects being proposed by the local authority and its considerations in terms of priorities. In general, the main focus of active travel investment delivered by the NTA 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.

Delivery of improved active travel networks continues apace across the country, supported by active travel teams now established in every local authority. The roll-out of improved and continuous active travel networks brings benefits to all users of such networks and the I look forward to seeing continued delivery in the years ahead.