Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
520. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of the €61 million which it was asserted (details supplied) was spent on cycling infrastructure in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42948/19]
View answerBudget 2019 provided a total allocation of approximately €61million to the two principal active travel programmes and the Greenways programme. The breakdown of those allocations was approximately €48 million toward active travel and €13 million toward greenways.
These allocations are used for the delivery of projects under these multi-annual capital expenditure programmes. The timing of expenditure on individual projects within programmes such as these are, by their nature, dependent on a number of variables and each year the majority of the allocated funding tends to be drawn down toward the year end. Following each year, overall programme expenditure is reported publicly and to the Oireachtas through the Department's audited Appropriation Account.
The Deputy will be aware that allocations made available under these specific funding programmes do not capture all public expenditure dedicated to active travel (or leisure-orientated walking and cycling), as it also benefits from funding provided under BusConnects, the roads programmes, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and from the tax incentive available under the Bike-to-Work Scheme.
