Greenways Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Questions (193, 194, 195)

Imelda Munster

Question:

193. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation provided each year since 2011 for the identification and development of greenway projects. [14613/17]

Imelda Munster

Question:

194. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the greenway projects that have been developed by his Department since 2011. [14614/17]

Imelda Munster

Question:

195. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation provided, each year since 2011, for the development and maintenance of cycle lanes and cycle tracks. [14615/17]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together.

While there was no dedicated funding stream in place in 2011 for the development of greenways €10 million was allocated by my Department under the Special Jobs Initiative Programme to County Councils for the improvement of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and other sustainable transport measures in towns and rural areas outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).  A small number of projects delivered under this programme could be classed as greenways and are included in the following table.

Under the National Cycle Network (NCN) Funding Programme approximately €23.5 million was allocated over the period 2012 to 2016 to advance cycle routes that provided valuable transport and recreational infrastructure, with the added potential to enhance tourist activity for the areas concerned. This includes €10 million allocated under the Government Stimulus package 2014. 

The first tranche for the years 2012/2013 funded fifteen cycling projects across the country with €7 million in funding provided.  Under the second tranche for the years 2014-2016, a further three projects shared in funding of €6.3 million. Of these three projects only one (in Waterford) has been completed. In May 2014, a €10 million investment package for greenway development was announced by Government as part of the €200 million national stimulus package. Eleven cycling projects were selected to share in this funding and eight of these projects have now been completed. 

In July 2016, €3.5 million was reallocated from the second tranche of NCN funding to projects in Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford as two of the original projects selected (Kerry and Galway) were not in a position to draw down their full allocation for 2016.

It is a condition of any funding award that local authorities are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure once the project has been completed.

Separately, under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme, my Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the seven local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) for the implementation of sustainable transport measures which includes cycling and walking infrastructure.  The NTA also manages a similar sustainable transport grants programme - the Regional Cities Programme - in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. I have forwarded your request to the NTA for consideration and response to you within 10 working days in relation to greenway projects funded.  If you have not received a response within 10 working days please contact my office.

Greenway/Cycling projects funded
All projects completed unless otherwise stated
Projects 2011
Year	Local Authority	Project	Status
	Limerick	Great Southern Trail extension
	Longford Town	Royal canal cycle and walkway
	Westmeath	Mullingar cycle network extension - Ballinagh to Shandonagh
	Waterford	The Track walking and cycling route
	Leitrim	Shannon Erne cycle/walkway
	Limerick	Nenagh Loop cycle/walkway
National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2012-2013 - Projects funded
2012	Carlow/Kilkenny	44.5km cycleway linking Carlow to Paulstown to Kilkenny.
	Clare	4km cycleway linking Ennistymon to Lahinch
	Donegal	195.5km cycle route between Donegal Town and Newtowncunningham
	Fingal	3km cycle link from Ashtown to Blanchardstown
	Kerry	1.2km extension to existing cycle/pedestrian route from Killarney to Fossa
	Limerick	3km extension to the Great Southern Trail (GST) from Abbeyfeale Town to Rathoran.
	Louth	6.3km greenway from Omeath and Carlingford
	Mayo	8.8km greenway from Castlebar to Turlough Park
	Meath	3km cycle/walkway from Drogheda Ramparts to the Oldbridge Estate entrance.
	Monaghan	4.5km cycle route through Monaghan Town
	North Tipperary	2.8km extension to the existing N52 walkway/cycleway
	Offaly	16.8km of dedicated cycle lanes along the R420 from Tullamore to Moate
	Roscommon	20km of dedicated cycle lanes along the former N6 between Athlone and Ballinasloe (funding withdrawn due to inability to deliver project)
	Waterford City	3.2km cycleway between Tramore and Waterford City
	Waterford Co	6.4km cycleway between the City Outer Ring Road to Tramore
	Westmeath	11.3km upgrading of canal tow path from Boardstown Bridge to county Boundary
*Outside of the NCN Programme Kerry Co Council received funding of €200,000 in 2012, approved in 2010, to complete the Tralee/Spa/Fenit 1.8km cycleway.
National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 - Projects funded
2014	Kerry	Phases 2 & 3 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Glenbeigh to Cahirciveen (26km)	ongoing
	Galway	Galway to Moycullen Greenway (12.4km)	ongoing
	Waterford	Clonea to Durrow Greenway (7.2km) (completed)
Reallocation of NCN Funding from current programme - July, 2016
2014	Kildare	Kildare section of Dublin to Galway Greenway	ongoing
	Meath	Meath section of Dublin to Galway Greenway	ongoing
	Longford	Abbeyshrule to Longford Bridge, Ballymahon (15.2km) (extension to Mullingar to Abbeyshrule Greenway)
	Westmeath	Garrycastle to White Gates (2.2km) (extension to the Mullingar to Athlone Greenway)
Stimulus Funding 2014 - Projects funded
2014	Clare	Phase 1 of the West Clare greenway from Ennis to Ballymacquiggan (5km)
	Kerry	Phase 1 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Cahirciveen to Reenard Point (Fertha Greenway) (5.7km)	ongoing
	Kerry	Tralee Fenit Trail - Phase 1 Rock Street to Casement Station (.42km)
	Kildare	Arthur's Way Greenway - Leixlip to Oughterard via Celbridge/Castletown (25km)
	Limerick	Patrickswell to Limerick City cycleway (4.14km) #
	Mayo	Monasteries of the Moy (14km) - part funding of overall project
	Roscommon	Boyle to Lough Key Forest Park (24km) - part funding of overall project	ongoing
	Tipperary	Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir Greenway (20km)	ongoing
	Waterford	Kilmeaden to Bilberry Greenway (20km)
	Westmeath	Athlone to Mullingar Greenway (40km)#
	Westmeath	Coolnahay to the County Boundary (14.4)#
#additional funding awarded to Kildare (104k); Limerick (155k); and Westmeath (3.2m)

The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.