The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE breakdown of the almost €6m allocation to Clare County Council for Active Travel projects has been revealed with significant investment in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure announced.
The National Transport Authority and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan announced spending totalling €72.8 million this Monday for 340 sustainable transport projects in 19 local authorities and Clare County Council has received €5,986,000 under the scheme.
The biggest allocation of €950,000 comes under the heading of village enhancement, which relates to the Connecting & Co-Creating Ennis walking routes project.
Among the big winners is Kilrush with separate €200,000 allocations for pedestrian and cycleway projects, while it is also included in a €444,000 grant for footpath improvements. Lahinch and Ennistymon also benefit from large allocations for cycle and public lighting infrastructure.
Over €2m of the allocation has been directed to projects in the north and west of the county including Kilrush, Lisseycasey, Doolin, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon, among others.
Ennis has also been allocated €650,000 for footpath, cycle infrastructure and lighting projects.
Welcoming the funding, Deputy Joe Carey said: “This funding has a particular focus on rural Ireland and I’m delighted to confirm that Clare County Council will receive just under €6 million.
“This funding is underpinned by the Government’s commitment to spend almost €1 million per day on walking and cycling projects and will support the roll out of high-quality active travel infrastructure in rural towns and villages right across the country. I am particularly pleased to see specific projects receiving funding as part of the Safe Routes to School programme, which we launched earlier this month.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Super news!!! €5,986,000 allocated to @ClareCoCo for active cycle and walking infrastructure throughout County Clare 🏃♂️ 🏃♂️🏃♂️🚲🚲🚲@ClareEcho @ClareFM @ClareChampion pic.twitter.com/crIZD4T4Mg
— Joe Carey TD (@joecareytd) March 29, 2021
This Monday’s funding is in addition to the multi-annual active travel investment programme announced on February 11, which has already designated €240 million to Dublin, the GDA and regional cities.
It is the first ever major active travel investment programme for rural Ireland and the €72.8 million announced today for rural counties, is greater than the entire 2019 funding for national walking and cycling programme. The NTA had originally earmarked €50m for this scheme but due to the volume of project proposals being developed by local authorities, it has been increased to over €70m.
Minister Ryan said: “Today’s allocation marks another significant step forward in providing green sustainable transport options to those outside of the large urban centres.
Developing high quality walking and cycling facilities will encourage more people to switch to active travel and will contribute to tackling climate change. Connecting communities and making walking and cycling attractive, safe and accessible to everyone is what this funding will help to accomplish.
“The projects being funded today will make a real difference to rural communities across the country and this is only the beginning.
“I look forward to seeing these projects progress over the coming year and to developing high quality walking and cycling networks over the course of this government.”
Details of the allocations can be found here
