As Minister for Transport, I am responsible for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to national and regional greenways. The planning, design and construction of the Greenways programme, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII took this role over from the Department of Transport in late 2021.
Since 2021, significant investment has been made in walking and cycling infrastructure. These investment levels recognise that high quality walking and cycling infrastructure is required to enable modal shift and to achieve the Climate Action Plan target of reducing transport emissions by 50% by 2030. The total allocation to TII in respect of the delivery of greenway and active travel on national roads schemes (the latter since 2024) since 2021 is contained within the below table.
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-
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
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|
Funding allocated to TII
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€63.5m
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€60m
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€63m
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€72m
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€67m
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€59.5m
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The Department of Transport generally provides funding to greenways over 20km in length or shorter distances where it is proposed to join a number of existing Greenways to form a longer, more strategic route. The table below lists completed Greenways that have received funding from the Department of Transport.
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Department of Transport funded Greenway route
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Route length (km)
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Midleton – Youghal Greenway
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23
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Grand Canal Greenway (works ongoing)
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131
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Royal Canal Greenway (works ongoing)
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130
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Limerick Greenway
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40
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Tralee to Fenit Greenway
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13.6
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Listowel to Abbeyfeale
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16
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Great Western Greenway
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49
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Carlingford Lough Greenway
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20
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Waterford Greenway
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48
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Old Rail Trail
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43
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Suir Blueway
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21
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Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway
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30
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Strabane to Castlefin
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16
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Derry to Three Trees
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22
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South East Greenway (works ongoing)
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8
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South Kerry Greenway (works ongoing)
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3
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Smaller Greenway projects that are predominantly located in urban areas are also funded through the NTA’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme, such as the Dodder Greenway in Dublin, the Passage West Greenway in Cork and certain phases of the Royal Canal Greenway as it approaches Dublin City Centre.
Figures in relation to Greenways monitoring usage levels are available via the Project Move dashboard which is available at www.tii.ie/media/ik4hngz2/what-is-move_updated-202411142.pdf.
I have been advised that approximately 300km
of Greenways has been opened for public use since 2021. This Government is committed to expanding our Active Travel and Greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in our cities, towns, villages, and rural areas. This commitment was demonstrated by the allocation of €360 million to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2026.
Future investment in specific Greenway schemes will be determined by a range of criteria. In this regard, TII are the approving authority responsible for the National and Regional Greenways programme. They work with local authorities via their Regional Management Structure in considering funding requests submitted from local authorities on an annual basis.
