More than €12 million in Active Travel Funding has been announced for projects in Galway city this year, along with €3 million for projects in the county.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton this week welcomed the allocation of funding in 2023 for Active Travel projects in Galway. “Dozens of projects in Galway city and county are set to receive targeted funding towards making walking and cycling in our villages and towns safe and sustainable,” she said.
“As we continue to meet our commitment of spending almost €1 million on walking and cycling projects each day, I am particularly happy to confirm that the schools in Oranmore participating in phase one of our new Safe Routes to School Programme will also benefit, with €120,000 allocated. This will allow our children to walk, cycle and scoot safely. This is a new project I implemented in the Department of Transport,” she added.
“This underpins our commitment to spend almost €1 million per day on walking and cycling, [and] focuses on resourcing the shift towards more sustainable modes of transport. Local authorities are at the heart of what we want to achieve and we need to ensure they have the right level of resources available to deliver this in every city, town and village across the country,” the Government Chief Whip noted.
“In Galway city, the Cross City Link has been allocated €450,000. This scheme will provide for a new bus priority corridor through Galway city centre, connecting the west and the east of the city from University Road to the Dublin Road. It sets the foundation for the delivery of the overall Galway BusConnects programme and it is a key aspect of the Galway Transport Strategy 2016-2036,” Minister Naughton indicated.
“Additionally, among a number of other projects funded in the city are the Crescent Road/Sea Road junction upgrade with €200,000 allocated, the Eglinton Canal Cycle Scheme with €200,000 allocated, and the Wolfe Tone Pedestrian Bridge with €500,000 allocated.
“My hope is that in time, through continued investment, and in cooperation with our local authorities, towns in rural Ireland will be made more travel sustainable and our cities will become more friendly places to cycle and walk. Government is committed to this aim as evidenced by today’s significant announcement.”
