The county’s walking and cycling infrastructure has been given a financial boost following the allocation of €2.5 million in Active Travel funding by the National Transport Authority.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday (Wednesday) announced the funding as part of a €290 million investment in approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects nationwide.
21 Roscommon projects have been allocated funding, with Ballaghaderreen’s town development project the largest beneficiary, receiving €1 million.
€280,000 has been allocated for the provision of footpaths in Ballinlough while the Bealnamulla Active Travel Scheme will receive the same amount.
Schools including Carrick NS, Ballinlough (€20,000), Coláiste Chiaráin, Summerhill (€60,000), St. Paul’s NS, Castlerea (€50,000), St. Attracta’s NS, Ballaghaderreen (€10,000), and St. Michael’s and St. Patrick’s NS, Cootehall (€15,000) have also received funding.
Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan said she was pleased that part of the NTA funding will be allocated to the Safe Routes to School programme.
“€20 million was recently announced for Round 2 of the programme which will see over 37,000 students across Ireland benefit from safer infrastructure and encourage them to cycle, walk and wheel to school,” she said.
“In conjunction with Safe Routes to School, funding will also be committed to continuing the Cycle Right Training programme, which in 2022 saw over 30,000 students trained to cycle safety”.
Other notable projects to benefit include Lecarrow Village Footpath (€150,000); Roscommon Local Transport Plan (€100,000); South Roscommon Villages Active Travel Measures (€75,000), and St. Joseph’s NS Summerhill (€75,000).
Deputy Denis Naughten said: “This funding will help to provide safe walkways and cycleways for communities throughout the county and is particularly welcome where it improves safety for those who walk and cycle to school”.
Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy has said continuous funding for active travel is a cornerstone of the Government’s transport strategies.
“This will mean that communities across the country will be better connected with safe and people-friendly corridors to visit friends, go to the shops, or cycle and walk to school, sports training or other recreational and tourism activities,” he said.
