Eamon Ryan confirms huge investment in Waterford walking and cycling infrastructure

A total of €11million will be invested in walking and cycling infrastructure in Waterford this year. 

It's part of almost €300million in funding announced today (February 1) by the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, for approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects nationwide. 

Four million euro has been allocated to the Bilberry to City Centre Active Travel Route, with section 4 of the Dodder Greenway - Springfield Avenue and Dodder in South Dublin also receiving €4million. 

Twenty seven million euro - the largest allocation nationwide - will go towards the Fairview to Amiens Street Cycle Route. 

Nine hundred and twenty five thousand euro will go towards an Active Travel Scheme in Newtown, €655,000 for Carrick Road, Portlaw (previously known as Comeragh Electoral Area Programme), and €406,000 for the Active Travel Scheme in Knockanore, Dungarvan (previously known as Dungarvan & Lismore EA Programme). 

The nationwide funding will reportedly contribute to the development of almost 1,000km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025, as well as the development of segregated cycle lanes and widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges and new pedestrian crossings. 

Over 500 projects across rural Ireland are expected to see progression this year, with 250 in regional cities and 387 in the Greater Dublin Area. 

Other major projects receiving funding include €1,900,000 for the Limerick City and County Council Active Travel Office, and a whopping €27,000,000 for a cycle route between Fairview and Amiens Street in Dublin City. 

Speaking today, Minister Ryan said, "Continuous and substantial funding for active travel across the country is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and a cornerstone of our transport strategies. Last year, all of the money allocated was drawn down by local authorities and I am confident that the same will happen this year. 

"This will mean that communities across the country will be better connected with safe and people friendly corridors to visit friends, go to the shops, or cycle or walk to school, sports training or other activities." 

He continued: "People very often think that Greenways, cycle-ways or walkways are primarily tourism amenities. Of course, they serve that purpose really well, but first and foremost they are about local people and improving local life, connecting suburbs, local villages or townlands that have often become disconnected from one another because of busy and dangerous roads. 

"The benefits of this investment are immense, locally and nationally. Not only are we making our cities, towns and villages greener and more livable, we are also helping to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions. In transport, we have a significant challenge to reduce our emissions by 50% by 2030.

"To achieve this, we have to encourage more people to choose sustainable ways of travelling. However, as we have seen already with the greenways, walk and cycle ways, once we build them, they become instantly popular and we don’t really have to do much to encourage people to make the sustainable switch.” 

CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, called 2023 "an important year" for active travel. 

She said, "With a growing number of active travel schemes moving from design into construction and delivery, we can encourage more people across the country to walk or cycle within and beyond their local community. The funding being announced today will allow the NTA to continue to work alongside local authorities as we accelerate the delivery of improved cycling and walking infrastructure. 

"From new segregated cycle lanes and footpaths, to dedicated pedestrian and cycling bridges, the active travel projects receiving funding will make it easier and safer for people to choose active travel modes. The extensive work being undertaken in partnership with Active Travel teams within Councils nationwide will help improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and make them more accessible and attractive for everyone.”