Ireland’s Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney and Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer have announced €360m in Government funding for Active Travel and Greenways in 2026. This investment is dedicated to the development of walking and cycling projects that offer safe, sustainable and healthy transport options to communities around the country.
The Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme in the National Transport Authority (NTA) was allocated €290m for the development of walking and cycling infrastructure in villages, towns and cities. This funding will enable almost 1,000 projects of varying scale to progress in 2026. Among these are the Broadmeadow Estuary Greenway in Dublin; Lehenaghmore Road Improvement Scheme in Cork; the Mary Immaculate College to City Centre Active Travel Scheme in Limerick; and the Tramore Ring Road Active Travel Scheme in Waterford
An additional €8m is available to fund smaller-scale behavioural change and training programmes. These include CycleRight training in primary schools and the NTA’s Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campuses Programme.
The remaining €62m has been allocated to deliver Greenway projects across Ireland, including the South Kerry Greenway and the extension of the Ulster Canal Greenway in Monaghan. The allocation will also enable delivery of active travel infrastructure on national roads, and progress on the National Cycle Network, which aims to deliver a cohesive network between our towns and cities. Significant projects include cycleway facilities along the N60 between Castlebar to Breaffy, and the Blacksod Bay Loop Scheme, both in Mayo.
It is expected that 200km of walking and cycling infrastructure will be delivered in 2026, in line with the target set out in the Climate Action Plan. This investment programme is a key enabler in reducing our transport emissions.
Minister O’Brien said:
“The allocation of €360m in 2026 for active travel and greenway projects demonstrates the Government’s commitment to expanding sustainable transport options and delivering on the provision of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. The €290 million invested in the NTA’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme will assist with the development of key active travel networks in our villages, towns and cities, making walking and cycling a viable option for more of our population. The investment of €62m in our Greenways network, meanwhile, will help deliver key projects all over the country and is another step towards the development of a National Cycle Network.
Minister Canney commented:
“The continued expansion of our walking and cycling network through Greenway and active travel infrastructure is crucial in offering safe travel options to cyclists and pedestrians. It also contributes to our progress towards Vision Zero, our road safety strategy which sets out to achieve zero road fatalities or serious injuries by 2050. I particularly welcome the NTA’s planned investment this year in assessing locations of interest in relation to road safety, with a view to increasing collision prevention measures in such locations to protect our more vulnerable road users.”
(Picture: National Transport Authority)
