The Government has awarded €360 million for greenways and other cycling and walking infrastructure, with county and city councils awarded the funds for well over 1,000 projects nationwide through 2026.
The 'Active Travel and Greenways' investment is dedicated to the development of "walking and cycling projects that offer safe, sustainable and healthy transport options to communities around the country".
It is expected 200km of walking and cycling infrastructure will be delivered in 2026, which the Government says is a key enabler in reducing our transport emissions.
Dublin City Council comes out on top, with €35,950,000, though every local authority funded gets at least €3 million, and many much more than that, as you can see in the full breakdown below.
In the overall funding, some €62 million is being allocated to delivering greenways including the South Kerry Greenway and the extension of the Ulster Canal Greenway in Monaghan.
Other significant projects include cycleway facilities along the N60 between Castlebar to Breaffy, and the Blacksod Bay Loop Scheme, both in Mayo.
Advertisement
The 'active and sustainable transport investment programme' within the National Transport Authority has been allocated €290 million for the development of walking and cycling infrastructure in villages, towns and cities.
Related News
The 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 €8 million is available to fund "smaller-scale behavioural change and training programmes" including CycleRight training in primary schools and the NTA’s Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campuses Programme.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said the allocation of €360 million in 2026 "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," he said.
"The investment of €62 million 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.”
Active Travel Investment Grants: 2026 Allocations
- Dublin City Council 35,950,000
- South Dublin County Council 19,000,000
- Fingal County Council 23,500,000
- Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council 18,450,000
- Meath County Council 10,000,000
- Kildare County Council 9,000,000
- Wicklow County Council 7,000,000
- Greater Dublin Area Sub-Total: 122,900,000
- Cork City Council 27,050,000
- Cork County Council 18,000,000
- Limerick City and County Council 18,050,000
- Galway City Council 9,500,000
- Waterford City and County Council including SDZ 8,500,000
- Regional Cities Sub-Total: 81,100,000
- Carlow County Council 3,000,000
- Cavan County Council 3,000,000
- Clare County Council 2,750,000
- Donegal County Council 4,600,000
- Galway County Council 2,100,000
- Kerry County Council 2,750,000
- Kilkenny County Council 3,000,000
- Laois County Council 3,000,000
- Leitrim County Council 1,900,000
- Louth County Council 4,000,000
- Longford County Council 3,000,000
- Mayo County Council 3,000,000
- Monaghan County Council 2,500,000
- Offaly County Council 3,000,000
- Roscommon County Council 2,750,000
- Sligo County Council 3,000,000
- Tipperary County Council 4,000,000
- Westmeath County Council 3,000,000
- Wexford County Council 3,750,000
