I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 224 and 246 together.
I am aware there has been some confusion in recent weeks as regards Budget 2020's allocations to support active travel and greenways
I can confirm that Budget 2020 has allocated €91 million to the two principal active travel funding programmes which are mainly administered through the National Transport Authority. This is a significant increase on Budget 2019's allocation of €48 million toward the same two programmes.
Separately there is also a €23 million allocation for the Greenways programme, which supports leisure-orientated walking and cycling. This is a significant increase on Budget 2019's allocation of €13million toward the same programme.
Together these three funding programmes total €114 million next year and that includes the €9 million additional allocation, split evenly across active travel and greenways programmes, which arises from the introduction of carbon tax measures.
The Deputy will be aware that allocations made available under these funding programmes do not capture all public expenditure dedicated to active travel (or leisure-orientated walking and cycling); it also benefits from funding provided under BusConnects, the roads programmes, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and from the tax incentive available under the Cycle-to-Work Scheme.
I have no doubt the Deputy welcomes these increased allocations and looks forward, as I do, to the delivery of a number of important projects across the country in 2020.