Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
115. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided for greenways and cycling infrastructure in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2020; and the allocation made in 2021 for such projects in the counties. [37543/20]
View answerThe Deputy is probably aware that there a number of different programmes through which counties such as Cavan and Monaghan can access funding to support walking and cycling.
Within my Department there are three relevant programmes for 2020 –
- Greenways
- Cavan County Council was allocated €175,000 under the Greenways programme in relation to linking Cavan to the Ulster Canal at Drumully and from Cloverhill to Belturbet. Cavan will also benefit from the €500,000 awarded to Leitrim County Council as lead partner for the Sligo, Leitrim, Northern Counties Greenway which runs through Cavan to Blacklion.
- Monaghan County Council was awarded €100,000 in relation to a section of the Ulster Canal Greenway.
- All of the above funding allocations are to support pre-construction works such as feasibility, planning etc. and drawdowns are not expected until 2021.
- INTERREG VA Programme
- My Department also funds the Irish Government’s contribution in relation to the County Monaghan section of the approved INTTERREG VA Ulster Canal project; details of the Irish Government’s contributions for 2020 and 2021 are yet to be finalised.
- July Stimulus
As part of the July Stimulus this year Cavan County Council was awarded €1m by my Department for active travel related projects while Monaghan County Council was awarded €1.1m.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that as part of Government’s increased expenditure on active travel it is my intention that local authorities such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will have access to dedicated multi-annual funding in relation to active travel in 2021 and beyond and I expect announcements to be made very shortly in that regard.
On Greenways, I intend to announce details of further funding calls for both construction and continued planning and design in 2021, and both counties will have an opportunity to put forward suitable projects for consideration at that time.
There are also other funding programmes across Government which support walking and cycling such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and details of funding under those programmes is available from the relevant Departments.
