Greenway funding of €72 million allocated to construction, design and planning routes around Ireland

€72 million of national transport funding is being provided via Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to local authorities to progress 70 greenway projects across Ireland.

The full funding allocation can be found at TII.ie.

The funding includes the on-going and  completion of works on greenways including the Midleton to Youghal Greenway, the first section of which is due to open in March, and the planning and design stages of other greenways.

The TII allocation today also included €412m for major national roads projects across the country and €33m for national road maintenance — which is on top of local and regional funding for roads which was announced recently.

While the Department of Transport said that the greenway allocation forms part of the overall Programme for Government commitment of €360 million per annum dedicated funding to walking and cycling.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said: “I’m delighted to announce the 2024 Greenways spending programme. It means that we can expect that many projects of national and regional significance will be completed this year, like the Carlingford Lough Greenway and the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway in the Northeast or the continued construction of the magnificent South Kerry Greenway in the Southwest.”

There has been repeated criticism that greenways are not being designed well enough for transport use, but Minister Ryan said: “While these projects are great tourism amenities, greenways are first and foremost for locals so that they can visit neighbours, get to school or into their local towns safely.”

Minister for State Jack Chambers said: “The dividends associated with the increased level of investment in cycling and walking infrastructure in recent years are becoming evident with an acceleration of scheme delivery in the Greenways programme.”