My colleague Minister Eamon Ryan along with the National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced €3m funding allocated to Offaly to support the rollout of walking and cycling infrastructure in 2024, with a further €500,000 is to be allocated to Offaly County Council for bus stops.
This is part of the Active Travel Investment Programme, with a total of €290m funding to go to local authorities across Ireland.
The Offaly allocations are as follows:
- Tullamore Transport Plan € 85,000
- Tullamore Cycle Network Phase 1 € 322,000
- Active Travel Footpaths Improvements: Birr & Crinkill € 29,160
- Active Travel Footpath Improvements Cloghan € 300,000
- Tullamore - Spollenstown Road Active Travel Scheme € 168,000
- Junction Tightening : Edenderry & Birr € 95,000
- Tullamore Urban Greenway Project € 125,000
- Edenderry - R402-1 Junction Upgrade € 100,000
- Birr - Riverside Walk Upgrade Links € 119,340
- Rhode - Pedestrian Crossings & Footpath € 125,000
- Shinrone - Cloughjordan Road Active Travel Scheme € 225,000
- Ballycumber Active Travel elements € 75,000
- Active Travel Office - Staff Costs € 271,000
- Edenderry - SRTS (R1) Design & Cycle Links € 80,000
- Banagher SRTS (R1) Design Links € 5,500
- Edenderry Active Travel Elements € 350,000
- Kilcormac Village, Kinnity Road Active Travel Elements € 10,000
- Cox's Bridge, R443-2 Clara Rd, Tullamore € 190,000
- Edenderry Harbour & Grand Canal Link € 325,000
This year's funding for Offaly of €3m will allow for many projects already started to be progressed and expanded; here I’m thinking of projects like the riverside walk in Birr and the Tullamore Transport Plan.
I particularly welcome the continued investment in the Safe Routes to School Scheme in Edenderry and Banagher – we are improving safe access to schools for our young people and the wider community also benefits from the new infrastructure.
I believe that one of the most visible impacts of Green Party participation in Government is the investment in cycling and walking infrastructure in our towns and villages. Today’s funding announcement represents a record €1 billion investment by Government since 2020 to prioritise safe walking and cycling for people.
You can read more about the Programme here.