There has been widespread welcome for the announcement today by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D., that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated €289 million to Ireland’s local authorities for walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022, €7 million of it in Louth and East Meath.
“It is great to see our investment in active travel starting to bear fruit. I want us to now accelerate delivery of sustainable transport modes as we come out of the majority of covid restrictions” Minister Ryan said.
“It is vital that we do not allow a return to gridlock as we come out of the pandemic. We need to use the switch to remote working as an opportunity to reallocate road space to create a safer and more efficient transport system.”
“Local authorities and the NTA have been provided with an unprecedented increase in funding for additional staff for active travel. I will be bringing forward further amendments to the Road Traffic and Roads bill in the coming weeks, which will also enable them progress experimental traffic management schemes and other measures which fast track active travel infrastructure” he added.
Chair of the Louth East Meath Greens Anthony Murphy said:”…this allocation represents a sea change in thinking and will accelerate modal shift across Louth. If we are to have any hope in convincing people to swap their short car journeys to walking and cycling then we need to invest in infrastructure.”
“There is a groundswell of support in Drogheda for more sustainable transport options, groups like Drogheda Cycling have helped to bring attention to the growing support for active travel. We need to normalise cycling in the town, if we can make cycling safer then there will be a snowball effect on the numbers of people in the town cycling.”
Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA said: “…More people than ever want to cycle and walk as part of their daily journey, and it is incumbent on us to encourage them to precisely do that, so they can leave the car behind.
“This investment will make a big difference, not just in our major cities, but in towns and villages across Ireland. We will work with our partners in the local authorities to ensure that the projects announced today become a reality as soon as possible.
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, has also welcomed today’s funding announcement of €6,533,361 for cycling and walking infrastructure projects in County Louth and €475k for three major projects in East Meath for 2022.
“I’m delighted we have secured this funding which is the estimated cost to progress our local projects in the calendar year of 2022” O’Dowd said.
“We have to get serious about providing sustainable alternative methods of transport that allows our constituents to leave their car at home.
“Ensuring we have an efficient transport system is essential for the future as we aim to make our communities and town centres more vibrant, in addition to making commuting to work and school safer and easier.
O’Dowd also pointed out that a number of projects included in today’s list were announced last year as part of the active travel allocation and explains that this money represents what the council estimates they will actually spend on walking and cycling projects this year.
Meanwhile, East Meath Councillor Sharon Tolan has welcomed funding of €175,000 for the Eastham Road active travel scheme in the funding round.
“I have been working with our Transportation team on delivering a link between the Tara Road and the new Donacarney footpath & cycle path scheme” she said.
“This will deliver a safe cycle and pedestrian linkage between Donacarney, Bettystown and Laytown. Also included is the commitment to deliver the Donacarney to Bettystown Scheme which is at the Part 8 Planning phase and will be scheduled for construction this year.
Councillor Tolan says she will continue to work on delivering similar schemes for Mornington, Laytown, Julianstown and the wider East Meath area.
“It’s important that we build on the fabulous addition that the Tara Road has been, and ensure that we deliver safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the county” she said.
The full list of allocations for Louth and Meath are below:
County Louth Allocations
- Drogheda: St. Dominick’s Bridge. €2,163,347
- Drogheda: R132, Bridge of Peace to Train Station (incorporating Marsh Road) €170,000
- Ballymakenny Rd Drogheda €380,432
- Drogheda: Twenties Lane & R166 Termonfeckin Rd, design. €110,345
- Drogheda: R168 Collon rd, Hill of Rath RAB and Rosehall RAB. €282,132
- Drogheda: Rathmullan Road from Marely’s Lane junction, design. €144,201
- Drogheda: Boyne Business Park Link Road. €250,000
- Drogheda Dublin and North roads, design. €263,323
- Dundalk: R132 inner Relief Rd. €250,000
- Dundalk: Inner relief road to Riverside walk Dublin Road R215. €200,000
- Dundalk: Ard Easmuinn Rd to Train Station / Friary School Dundalk & Dundalk Bus Station to Rail Station. €335,000
- Transport / Mobility Plans: Including Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee,
- Clogherhead, Dunleer, Termonfeckin & Castlebellingham. €175,000
- Footpath Extensions / Links Package A: Termonfeckin & Cherrybrook. €281,881
- Footpath Extensions / Links Package B: Knockbridge & Annagassan. €177,000
- R132 Dublin Road, Dundalk ( Rank Xerox junctions to Green gates ) €200,000
- R178 Carrickmacross Road Dundalk €100,000
- Remedial Junction Works Dundalk for improved accessibility €150,000
- 2 New Pedestrian Cross on R132 Inner relief Rd, at Tain Bridge, Dundalk €112,500
- Hoeys Lane (from junction with Dublin Street to Junction with Naughtons Close) €100,000
- Mill Street, Dundalk (from Inner Relief rd junction to Castle Rd junction (440m). €100,000
- Hill Street Bridge to Train Station Dundalk €100,000
- New Ped / Cycle Link between College Heights and Tom Bellew Ave. Dundalk €150,000
- Moneymore, Drogheda footpaths €68,200
- Louth County Council Active Travel Office – Staff Costs €270,000
County Meath Allocations
- Boyne Greenway – Drogheda to Trim €150,000
- Navan GDA Cycle Network – Proudstown Road to Trim Road €1,000,000
- Navan GDA Cycle Network – Fairgreen to Johnstown €150,000
- Ratoath GDA Cycle Network – Ratoath Town Network €350,000
- Navan Traffic Management Plans (Navan 2030) – Ongoing Design Costs €300,000
- Navan 2020 Contract 2: Bridge St & Abbey Road Rdbt upgrade works €50,000
- Dunboyne Cycle Network €50,000
- Kentstown Road Rail Bridge and Laytown Rail Bridge Feasibility Assessment €60,000
- Cycle parking €40,000
- Navan Bus Service Infrastructure Implementation Measures €400,000
- Selected Green Schools Walkability Audits Infrastructure €285,000
- HGV Transport Study Navan €30,000
- Harlockstown Bus Stops €250,000
- Navan 2030 – Contract 3: Market Sq., Kennedy Rd / Trimgate St and Kennedy Plaza Enabling Works €2,500,000
- Navan 2030 – Contract 4: N51 Park and Ride €1,500,000
- Navan: Circular Rd to Martha’s Bridge €180,000
- Navan: Poolboy Bridge to Blackwater Park €75,000
- Ashbourne: R135 Frederick St to Ballybin Rd €3,400,000
- Bettystown to Donacarney €150,000
- Dunboyne to Clonee Bus and Cycle Scheme €70,000
- Boyne Rd. to Slane Rd. feasibility study €20,000
- Flowerhill Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme €75,000
- Academy Street Pedestrian Enhancement Scheme €200,000
- Trimgate Street Pedestrianisation €225,000
- Harlockstown Footpaths €650,000
- Bettystown Eastham Road €175,000
- Bus Stops Improvement works for pedestrians/cyclists €135,000
- End of Life Asset Renewal €500,000
- Meath County Council Active Travel Office – Staff Costs €840,000
- Meath County Council – Rapid Deployment Active Travel Measures €100,000.
