€22m funding awarded to Fingal from NTA

Fingal has received an increased active travel allocation for 2024, almost €5m more than in 2023, with a total of €290m for local authorities in Ireland announced by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD and Minister of State Jack Chambers TD.

The national allocation marks a watershed moment for active and sustainable travel funding as Government surpasses the €1bn mark, investing in more than 600km of walking and wheeling infrastructure delivered since 2020 under the NTA Active Travel Programme.

Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said: ‘We are very pleased to receive this vital funding from the NTA. It will be used to continue the expansion of a network of walking and cycling routes across Fingal. Active travel has clear benefits for every part of our community, particularly children and older people who are most vulnerable when road space is dominated by motor vehicles.’

Funding has been awarded to 41 projects in the Fingal area, covering a range of active and sustainable travel opportunities from Safe Routes to School treatments for primary schools, to upgrades for Donabate, Hartstown, Balbriggan, Skerries, Blanchardstown and several other towns and villages as well as landmark projects at New Street Malahide and Broadmeadow Greenway.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: ‘Progress on active travel and sustainable transport projects has been significant in 2023 and we continue to move forward with a number of consultations getting underway in early 2024. Several major projects are under construction and due for delivery this year. Piecing together the active travel network in Fingal, in line with the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan, is a long-term exercise and our teams in Active Travel and Planning and Strategic Infrastructure are working hard to build infrastructure that will make the choice to walk or cycle easier and safer for everyone.’

David Storey, Director of Services for Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sport at Fingal County Council says: ‘The work we are doing is creating better, safer and more attractive opportunities to walk or cycle wherever you are travelling in Fingal. The way we move is changing for the better. People who walk and cycle are most at risk on the road, so it is our responsibility to give them safe spaces to move in by providing protected cycle lanes, wider footpaths, and reducing the speed of motor vehicles using proven techniques such as narrower traffic lanes, tighter junctions and speed ramps.’

Matthew McAleese, Director of Services for Planning and Strategic Infrastructure at Fingal County Council said: ‘By creating a far-reaching network of walking and cycling paths to get from point a to z and everywhere in between we aim to encourage people to think twice and make a more climate-friendly choice. With major projects in the pipeline including the Sutton to Malahide Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, the Broadmeadow Way, the Fingal Coastal Way and Sustainable Swords we are providing the very best in sustainable travel choices for the people of Fingal and this is enabled by this important funding from the NTA.’

Fingal County Council is working to build Active Travel into everyday life as part of normal daily routines. Active Travel has the potential to transform our communities and positively impact our climate. The council is working to achieve behavioural change by providing best-in-class infrastructure, policies and amenities that prioritise walking and wheeling for the people of Fingal.

To learn more about active travel and strategic infrastructure projects in Fingal, go to: Active Travel | Fingal County Council