Brendan Griffin
Ceist:83. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the creation of safe walking and cycling space on rural roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44159/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 16 September 2021
Ceisteanna (83, 129)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate a radical rethink in the way existing space on rural roads is utilised; his views on whether there is underutilisation of space that could be more appropriately utilised for safer walking and cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44160/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 129 together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this year, we have seen a significant increase in funding, in line with the Government’s prioritisation of Active Travel and Greenways. I was delighted to announce earlier this year an allocation of €72.8 million towards a Rural Active Travel Investment Programme which will support 340 sustainable transport projects in towns and villages across 19 local authorities. This funding stream constitutes the first ever major Active Travel investment programme for rural Ireland and will support the roll out of high-quality active travel infrastructure in rural towns and villages across the country.
My Department is also working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who are leading on the development of a National Cycle Network which will both map the existing Active Travel infrastructure around the country, including Greenways, and identify gaps which will inform future planning decisions for walking and cycling infrastructure in our cities, towns, villages and rural areas. It aims to provide a basis for the delivery of a high-quality, integrated Active Travel network which will seek to connect footpaths, cycle tracks and Greenways, potentially via improving Active Travel infrastructure on existing rural, local, regional and national roads. This has the potential to also identify areas where reallocation of road space would be more appropriate than the development of new infrastructure, such as on more lightly trafficked roads in rural areas. Following a period of public consultation next Spring, the final National Cycle Network Strategy is due to be delivered to the Department in Q4 2022.