12th February, 2024
Wicklow County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transport of €8.5m in funding which has been granted to 28 Active Travel projects across the county. Within that figure, funds have also been allocated specifically to the bus stop enhancement programme.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated these funds as part of an overall €290m investment to be spent on 800 new and existing walking and cycling infrastructure projects across Ireland this year.
Projects to receive funding in Wicklow include:
- Bray Dart Interchange scheme
- Wicklow and Greystones Pathfinder projects
- Arklow South Cycle and Pedestrian Improvement scheme
- Funding for eight schools across the county which are part of the Safe Routes to Schools programme.
Further walking and cycle infrastructure projects will be implemented across all five municipalities of Wicklow.
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said:
“I’m delighted to see the progress the Active Travel team have made through the implementation of increased walking and cycling infrastructure across the county. Our goal is to enable more people to choose alternative forms of transport other than the car, and this commitment from the Department of Transport and the NTA for funding in 2024 will only strengthen that goal. I’m pleased to see that many are already making that change by walking, cycling or wheeling their way to school, work or local amenities.”
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, said the support to further Active Travel infrastructure across the county is crucial adding:
“I welcome the announcement of this vital funding from the NTA. It will allow our Active Travel team to further progress the delivery of invaluable schemes across the county. The Bray DART Interchange project, which has received a substantial portion of this funding, is a key project for Wicklow County Council in 2024. Upon completion of construction, which is due to begin early this year, we will have delivered a high-quality public realm interchange between the key transport modes of walking, cycling, taxi, bus and railway at Bray Train Station. We look forward to the improvements this scheme will have on pedestrian safety and accessibility in such a busy area.”
Leonora Earls, Director of Services for Transportation, Water and Emergency Services, at Wicklow County Council acknowledged the support from the Department of Transport and the NTA stating:
“We are delighted with the investment from the NTA within the county of Wicklow. Their support is paramount, and it enables us to further progress 26 schemes across the Municipal Districts of Bray, Arklow, Wicklow, Baltinglass and Greystones. In particular, we are thrilled that eight schools in Wicklow will benefit as part of the Safe Routes to Schools programme. The welfare of our children is of utmost importance, and this funding will enable us to create a safer, less congested front of school environments for hundreds of children alongside their parents, and the wider community.”
Speaking at the announcement, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD, who was joined by Minister of State Jack Chambers TD and National Transport Authority (NTA) Deputy CEO Hugh Creegan, said:
“A key commitment in the Programme for Government and something that has been a cornerstone of our National Transport strategy over the past few years has been the dedication to making walking, cycling and wheeling safer and much more accessible throughout the country. It’s great that this year we will hit the €1bn investment mark.
“We are seeing the impact of this continued and substantial investment in our towns, villages and cities, where we are delivering large and small scale projects that are transforming where we live, making them much more attractive, safer and healthier. Many of the most attractive cities and towns in the world are the ones that prioritise active travel and now many more locations here in Ireland can join this list of great places to live and visit.”
This latest allocation means 2024 will be the year that the Government’s total investment for active travel infrastructure since 2020 will reach the €1bn mark. This investment has seen more than 600km of cycling, walking and wheeling infrastructure delivered since 2020 under the NTA Active Travel Programme.
The full list of projects included as part of the funding is below:
Active Travel Investment Grants: 2024 Allocations
- Bray DART Interchange - Bus Terminus Improvements
- Active Travel Bridge Wicklow Train Station to Port Access Route - Pathfinder
- R761 Bray Bridge active travel improvements
- Arklow Local Transport Plan
- Greystones Local Transport Plan
- Delgany Village to Mill Road Active Travel Elements
- Wicklow Town Active Travel - Pathfinder project
- Blessington Main St to Deerpark Active Travel Scheme
- Greystones Active Travel - Pathfinder project
- Convent Road Active Travel Scheme
- Ballyguilemore Active Travel facilities
- Arklow South Active Travel Improvements
- Killincarrig Village Enhancement Scheme
- SRTS round 1: SS Michael and Peter Junior School, Arklow
- SRTS round 1: St Kevin's National School, Greystones
- SRTS round 1: St. John's Senior National School, Arklow
- SRTS round 2: Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath
- SRTS round 2: Greystones Educate Together
- SRTS round 2: Kilmacanogue NS, Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
- SRTS round 2: Scovil Niocláis Naofa, Dunlavin
- SRTS round 2: Temple Carrig School, Greystones
- Wicklow Rathnew Local Transport Plan
- Baltinglass Active Travel River Crossing Study
- Active Travel - Arklow North Cycle & Pedestrian Improvements
- Ashford to New Developments (Urban) Footpath
- Kilcoole Road Footpath