Claire Kerrane
Question:319. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the details of all available grant funding towards feasibility studies for greenways; and when each grant opens for applications. [18640/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (319)
Written answers
In 2020 €4.5 million was provided to Local Authorities for a variety of pre-construction phases, including feasibility studies, for 26 National and Regional Greenway projects under the Carbon Tax Fund. This funding will ensure that we have a pipeline of Greenway projects ready to progress to the next phase, such as planning applications or route option phases or environmental screening when funding is next available.
I would expect to be in a position to announce further funding support to those projects, projects that are seeking construction support and projects that require support for feasibility studies later this year or perhaps early in 2022 - that will depend on progress of the currently funded projects that have been impacted by the pandemic.
Our funding will be routed through Local Authorities and State Agencies, we do not fund community groups to develop this type of work. I would urge local authorities who are considering an application for feasibility funding to engage now with local communities and landowners in advance of any application as evidence of such engagement will assist their application.