Funding for Active Travel and Sustainable Transport has increased from an average of €34 million per year between 2015 and 2019 to over €184 million in 2021.
The NTA provided funding of €184.14 m in 2021, comprising of € 87.56m across the 7 Greater Dublin Area local authorities, €64.72m to the regional cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway Waterford, and €31.86m to the remaining 19 Local Authorities.
Sustainable transport, and in particular active travel, is seen as a critical component of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and as a result funding increases will continue into 2022 when over €250million will be allocated for NTA funded active travel projects, with this level of funding committed to until 2025.
Key Achievements for 2021:
- €184m invested
- 364% increase in spend since 2019
- 92 km of new or upgraded cycle infrastructure
- 161 km of new or improved footpaths
- 20 fold increase in km delivered since 2019
- 121 new staff appointed in 2021 – 174 staff now in place.
- 902 projects allocated in 31 local authorities
- 23 projects over €10m
- 6500+ participants in active travel training sessions
- 170 Schools in new Safe Routes to Schools programme
Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said: ‘The increased investment in Active Travel and Sustainable Transport for 2021 shows the NTA’s commitment to the government’s Climate Action Plan. Funding will increase until at least 2025 to ensure that people will have alternative transport methods other than the private car that are both safe and reliable.’
View 2021 Annual Bulletin NTA Active Travel