- Major expansion of Greenway network to be facilitated by funding and a new Code of Practice
- National Road projects will prioritise safety, regional connectivity, bypasses and key NDP projects
The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. has today confirmed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has issued the Greenways and national road funding allocations totalling €676 million to local authorities for 2022.
TII is responsible for securing the provision of a safe and efficient road network and provides annual funding allocations to local authorities for this purpose. TII has also recently been assigned responsibility for Greenways.
Funding of circa €60 million has been allocated to around 40 Greenway projects across the country in 2022, in nearly every single county.
Significant Greenway investment is being directed at the border counties; 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. Many local authorities are now working together to progress projects in their region. 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.
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.”
Funding for National Roads
Approximately €616m of Exchequer funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2022 (regional and local roads are allocated separately). The 2022 funding allocations are made having regard for the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP), which balances investment in transport against other priorities of Government on housing and health over the lifetime of the Plan.
TII is allocating the funding in a manner which seeks to achieve the following key outcomes in line with the NDP:
- Protection and renewal of the existing network.
- Progress major projects in or near construction.
- Progress those projects which are further along in the development pipeline, e.g., the N21/N69 Foynes/Adare project and the M28 Cork Ringaskiddy project.
- Prioritise any remaining funds for projects which provide for local bypasses and compact growth in towns.
Funding has been allocated to the following projects which are currently under or close to construction:
- N56 Dungloe to Glenties
- N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom
- N5 Westport to Turlough
- N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge
- M8/N40 Dunkettle Interchange
- N59 Moycullen Bypass
- N69 Listowel Bypass
Funding has also been allocated to the following projects which are at an earlier stage in the development process:
- M21 Limerick – Adare Bypass/N69 link to Foynes
- M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy
- N6 Galway City Ring Road
- N52 Ardee bypass
- N2 Slane Bypass
- N2 Rath Roundabout to Kilmoon Cross
- N2 Ardee to Castleblayney
- N13/N14/N56 Donegal TEN-T Project
- N3 Virginia Bypass
- N4 Carrick on Shannon to Dromod
- N11 Oilgate to Rosslare
- N17 Collooney to Knock
- N21 Abbeyfeale Relief Road
- N21 Newcastle West Relief Road
- N22 Farranfore to Killarney
- N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction, incl. Tipperary Bypass
- N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road
- N3 Clonee to M50 - to interface to BusConnects
- N11 Bray to Kilmacanogue - bus lane component
- M4 Maynooth to Leixlip - bus lane component
- N/M20 Cork to Limerick Project
- N25 Castlemartyr and Killeagh Bypass
- N26 Foxford Bypass
Minister Ryan commented “Today’s allocations are an important step in a pathway of planned investment in our national road network over the coming decade. A priority for the Government is to advance safe, clean, liveable towns and communities. This investment will help to take heavy traffic out of our main streets, giving towns back to residents and shoppers. It will also provide scope for greater Active Travel options (walking and cycling) in town centres. Reduced traffic volumes will allow for “compact growth” in town centres, providing possibilities for residential development. For that reason, we will see a renewed focus on supporting local by-passes.”
Minister Naughton commented “These allocations will allow us to build on the large-scale road investment that has taken place over the last 20 years which has helped improve regional connectivity. As a result, our first priority should be to protect our existing national roads, ensuring that they are in a safe and robust condition for all road users. Over the lifetime of the NDP, €2.9 billion has been earmarked for this purpose.
“As part of the NDP, Government has also earmarked €5.1 billion for spending on new national roads projects until 2030. While the greater portion of this funding will become available during the second half of the decade, many projects will continue to be advanced. A large majority of projects under the NDP have been issued with a funding allocation for 2022. While some projects may not be considered for appraisal until 2023 or beyond, no projects have been ruled out.”
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Notes to the Editor
The circa €60 million funding for Greenways is part of the overall commitment to invest €360 million per year in active travel over the lifetime of the Government. Further allocations will be made by the NTA and the Department of Transport in the New Year covering Active Travel for both urban and rural areas.
A detailed breakdown of Greenway funding is provided in Annex 1 attached.
Full details of the TII allocations by local authority for both national roads and Greenways can be found in the attached PDF.