New fund for active travel projects in rural areas

Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has urged Waterford City and County council to apply for a new €50m fund announced by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

He said: “This new funding is specifically designed for our towns, villages and rural areas and I urge Waterford Council to make sure that Waterford towns and villages gets the maximum benefit from this fund. Minister Ryan has said that he wants to fund the development of active travel network strategies, the provision of new / widened footpaths or segregated cycle tracks, improved crossing facilities for pedestrians/cyclists, and a wide range of other measures. I want to see our rural towns become great places to walk and cycle because this brings not only environmental benefits but health and community benefits too.”

“In particular I’d like to see safe walking and cycling routes rolled out that gives children safe options for walking and cycling to school in our towns and villages. Councils can roll out this infrastructure quickly using Section 38 of the Roads Act which allows them to quickly build segregated cycle tracks and widened footpaths on existing roads without using the Part 8 planning process. This fund represents a real opportunity for communities in Waterford and I will work with Waterford Council to make sure that our county towns and villages get the maximum benefit.”