Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
256. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to a scheme encouraging farmers and other rural land owners to cultivate or otherwise encourage a section of road frontage on their lands for pedestrian use in order to facilitate safer passage of those walking or running in the countryside particularly in view of current restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13412/21]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. While my Department provides grant support to assist local authorities with the maintenance and renewal of regional and local roads, consideration of a scheme to utilize a section of road frontage on private land for pedestrian use would be a matter for each local authority in terms of assessing what would be feasible and what arrangements would have to be made with individual landowners.
In the context of funding for such works, local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) along with regional cities have been eligible for some years for Active Travel funding from the NTA. However In August 2020 over €30 million of Stimulus monies was allocated directly by the Department to other local authorities. In 2021 a new arrangement has been put in place whereby the NTA will provide monies to these other authorities for active travel projects. This new arrangement which comprises of a fund of €50 million was announced by the Minister in December 2020. While the NTA has already announced detailed allocations for 2021 for active travel projects in local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area along with regional cities it has not yet announced the details of the €50 million funding package which will be available to the other local authorities (non city and non GDA) for active travel works in 2021.
