Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
202. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department will review the eligibility criteria under the active travel programme to ensure that smaller rural towns and villages can access funding for footpath provision and pedestrian safety projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51162/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the extent to which smaller rural communities are unable to access active travel funding due to programme criteria, population thresholds, or project requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51164/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the allocation of funding at local authority level as well as the oversight of development and delivery of individual projects.
As part of the allocations determination, the NTA liaises with each local authority to fully understand the projects being proposed by the local authority and its considerations in terms of priorities. In general, the main focus of active travel investment is to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips in towns and cities with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel; however this does not preclude smaller villages from applying for or receiving funding under the Active Travel programme.
I am satisfied that the current eligibility criteria allows smaller rural communities to access active travel funding; however given the ramping up of Active Travel activities over the last five years, the number of projects seeking investment now far exceeds the level of funding made available to the NTA. Accordingly, the NTA is unable to fully fund all proposed Active Travel projects and has to prioritise certain projects over others in order to remain within its allocated budget. While a project may not be selected by the NTA for funding in a particular year, it may be funded in subsequent years.
I would therefore encourage communities who are seeking Active Travel funding to actively engage with their local authorities to ensure funding applications are submitted to the NTA as part of the annual allocations process.
