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Transport Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (227)

Alan Kelly

Question:

227. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has funded active travel measures on regional and national roads countrywide since January 2020; and if so, the location, routes, measures funded and the total funding amounts in tabular form. [6310/22]

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Written answers

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.

The 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. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

As part of the 2020 July Jobs Stimulus Plan, over €30 million was allocated by the Department’s Regional and Local Roads Division to eligible local authorities for active travel schemes. Eligible local authorities under the Department’s programme were all local authorities excluding those in the Greater Dublin Area and the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Funding for those areas was provided by the National Transport Authority under an equivalent programme.

In addition, a number of strategic regional and local road improvement schemes which are currently under construction or have been recently completed, incorporate provision for cycle tracks and footpaths. On average in excess of 20% of the total cost of each scheme can be attributed to cycling and walking elements. The relevant schemes completed since January 2020 or currently at construction stage are the Sligo Western Distributor Road; the Sallins Bypass Scheme, Kildare; the Laytown to Bettystown Road, Meath; the Tralee Northern Relief Road, Kerry; the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, Limerick; the Athy Southern Distributor Road, Kildare and the Shannon Crossing/Killaloe Bypass/ R494 Upgrade scheme, Clare and Tipperary.

In relation to schemes other than strategic improvement schemes, the detailed information is being prepared by my officials and a reply will issue as soon as possible.

Under the Programme for Government, €360m is allocated annually to fund the delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure across the country, much of this will be for specific stand-alone projects whilst some as mentioned above will be delivered as part of national and regional road projects. With regard to the provision of Active Travel measures on National and Regional Roads, I have asked TII and the NTA to provide this information directly to the Deputy. Should he not receive this information within 10 working days I would ask him to contact my office.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
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