Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2019
206. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the fact that cycling receives less than 2% of the €384 million increase in Budget 2020 in relation to the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42159/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware there has been some confusion since Budget 2020 in relation to announcements made in relation to expenditure on active travel related programmes.
On Budget Day I announced allocations of €114 million toward active travel/greenways, comprised of -
- €91million toward active travel related programmes
- €23million toward greenways.
Those allocations included €9million divided equally between across active travel and greenways and sourced from the revenue derived from carbon tax receipts. This additional allocation from carbon tax receipts gave rise to a misunderstanding that active travel’s total allocation for 2020 was just €9million, which is completely incorrect.
I can inform the Deputy that since announcement of Budget 2020’s overall funding parameters and as we move toward finalisation of allocations, and expected project level commitments next year, that there is likely to be an upward shift in the active travel related allocations for next year, with the two principal active travel related programmes now to be allocated just over €100million in total as opposed to €91million. (As already noted, there is also the announced allocation for greenways, which is additional to the €100 million.)
Within my Department active travel is also separately supported through funding provided under the BusConnects programme and the roads programme.
However, that does not capture the totality of taxpayer support for active travel as funding is also made available through other funding programmes such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Cycle to Work Scheme.
