Darren O'Rourke
Question:98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated by county for greenways in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/21]
View answerWednesday, 27 January 2021
Questions (98)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware that active travel urban cycling and walking and rural greenway infrastructure is supported through a number of different programmes across Government, and local authorities can access various funding sources to support active travel and rural greenways, including my own Department’s programmes as well as programmes such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Since publication of the Greenways Strategy in 2018 there have been two significant rounds of funding allocations in 2019 and 2020 directed toward significant greenways projects across the country, while last year also saw a smaller round of allocations funded through the Carbon Tax Fund which is designed to support local authorities in the planning and design of rural greenways and allow them access later construction funding calls.
The tables below details allocations under the Greenways Programme in 2019 and 2020 and the Carbon Tax Fund in 2020 –
Greenways Programme
|
County |
2019 Allocation |
2020 Additional Allocation |
Total |
|
Cork County |
€8,000,000 |
€11,800,000 |
€19,800,000 |
|
Galway |
€2,600,000 |
€1,600,000 |
€4,200,000 |
|
Kerry |
€6,500,000 |
€400,000 |
€10,500,000 |
|
Mayo |
€3,200,000 |
€2,300,000 |
€5,500,000 |
|
Kildare/Waterways |
€1,700,000 |
€1,300,000 |
€3,000,000 |
|
Offaly/Waterways |
€2,350,000 |
€300,000 |
€2,650,000 |
|
Wexford |
€8,000,000 |
€7,700,000 |
€15,700,000 |
|
Wicklow |
€5,000,000 |
€10,000,000 |
€15,000,000 |
In 2020 €4.5m in funding under the Carbon Tax Fund was allocated to 26 projects to support various pre-construction elements including feasibility, planning and design.
Carbon Tax Fund
|
County |
amount |
|
Carlow |
€150,000 |
|
Cavan |
€175,000 |
|
Clare |
€255,000 |
|
Cork - County |
€80,000 |
|
Donegal |
€340,000 |
|
Fingal |
€200,000 |
|
Galway County |
€315,000 |
|
Kildare |
€96,850 |
|
Leitrim |
€500,000 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€150,000 |
|
Longford |
€60,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
200,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
95,000 |
|
Meath |
750,000 |
|
Monaghan |
€100,000 |
|
Offaly |
€155,000 |
|
Roscommon |
€100,000 |
|
Sligo |
€300,000 |
|
Tipperary County |
€200,000 |
|
Waterford City and County |
€80,000 |
|
Limerick and Clare (Waterways Irl) |
€140,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€58,000 |
Other funding has been allocated to projects outside of these formal funding streams for previously approved projects in Galway, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford - the funding for these projects was for planning and design for the first two projects (originally allocated funding in 2014) and for additional ancillary infrastructure and snag list works in the latter two. Funding was also allocated to Longford, Westmeath, Meath and Kildare for the Royal Canal and Galway to Dublin Greenway. This funding is set out in the table below and reflects actual expenditure rather than original allocations.
|
Project |
2019 (actual expenditure) |
2020 (actual expenditure) |
|
Kerry |
€538,174 |
€130,365 |
|
Galway |
€104,882 |
€0 |
|
Waterford |
€260,015 |
€93,594 |
|
Tipperary |
€780,909 |
€1,004,896 |
|
Longford |
€229,102 |
€131,979 |
|
Westmeath |
€5,921,458 |
€769,486 |
|
Meath |
€119,071 |
€30,000 |
|
Kildare |
€2,122,844 |
€57,785 |
It is my intention to look at allocating further funding to projects later this year, including construction and planning funding. COVID19 has had an impact on progress on all our Greenways projects but it is important that we keep developing Greenways around the country.
Urban Active Travel Greenways
There is also the programme of urban, commuter focussed greenways on each of the five cities which is administered by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51