Ireland allocates €60 million in 2022 funding to Greenway expansion
The Irish Government has today announced a funding pot of €676 million to deliver a significant expansion of Ireland’s Greenway network, as well as the roads.
€60 million of that cash will now be divided between 40 Greenway proposals covering almost every county, according to the Department for Transport statement. The Irish Government has more broadly pledged to spend €360 million annually on active travel over the course of the Government’s term with fresh announcements expected next year.
The Greenway investment is, in many cases, going to see local authorities working together to deliver projects in their regions. Cork and Waterford are developing a Mallow to Dungarvan route, and Sligo, Cavan and Leitrim are working with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to develop the Collooney to Enniskillen route.
Aside to this, border counties will likewise see projects that cross county lines. Donegal is progressing a number of Greenways and Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Louth are also receiving investment that will see an expansion of cross-border Greenways.
Minister Ryan said: “This funding will also support extensions of the Grand Canal Greenway in Offaly, Kildare and South Dublin, link the North Kerry Greenway to the Limerick Greenway, and join the Waterford to New Ross Greenway with the Waterford Greenway. We are moving into a new and exciting phase when more and more Greenways are being connected, with TII also developing a National Cycle Network.”
Minister Ryan continued: “I’m particularly happy that agreement has been reached on a Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways. This Code has been agreed with the farming representative bodies and other stakeholders and provides us with an approved way to achieve voluntary land sales for Greenways where needed. Community buy-in is central to the future of our Greenways, which are one of the big success stories of rural Ireland. Greenways are a wonderful amenity for leisure and tourism, and they are also important for everyday journeys to school, work or the shops”
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton T.D. said “The Galway to Dublin Greenway, a 330km car-free corridor between Galway and Dublin, linking the Atlantic coast to the East coast, has a particularly exciting focus in the funding being announced today. Counties including Meath, Kildare, Westmeath, Offaly will benefit from investment towards this project. Once complete, the Dublin-Galway project will provide both a local and national amenity for communities and visitors to enjoy while also supporting local business such as cafés, shops, B&Bs, camping sites and hotels.
“As a Minister based in the West of Ireland, I am also very pleased to see the Connemara Greenway receive a strong funding allocation of over €3 million in 2022. This funding includes the routes between Clifden to Recess (€1.9 million), Galway to Moycullen (€600k) and Derrygimlagh-Clifden-Kylemore Abbey (€550k). I very much look forward to cycling this route, some of which is due to be completed in the second half of next year.”
A full breakdown of the spend allocation can be seen here.
