€3,300,000 has been allocated by the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the provision of walking and cycling Active Travel infrastructure in Laois.
This investment being directed to Laois County Council will enable more people to walk and cycle in their daily lives, improving the quality of life and a reduction in carbon emissions as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
This also includes the segregated cycle lanes and widened footpaths, new walking and cycling routes and new pedestrian crossings.
The towns and villages to benefit from this funding are: Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Rathdowney, Stradbally, Portarlington, Borris in Ossory, Ballinakill, Ballyroan and Camross.
Deputy Sean Fleming said: “I am especially pleased that so much funding for the Safe Routes to School Programme will continue to improve safety measures for many students going to and from school.
“The benefits of this investment are immense, locally and nationally. This is very welcome news and will benefit many people, both young and old throughout the county.
“I look forward to work on these projects in Laois commencing as soon as possible which will allow everyone in our communities to enjoy and have access to safer routes whether it’s for their travel to work, school or to exercise in their local areas.
“I am asking Laois County Council to progress all these projects as a priority now that the Government has been allocated this funding.”
Deputy Charlie Flanagan said: “In recent years there has been a greater emphasis on alternative transport which provides personal health benefits as well as more environmentally friendly living.
“Today’s funding will mean that communities across County Laois will be better connected with safe walk ways, paths, cycle lanes when going about their day to day activities.
“Extensive work will be undertaken by Laois County Council to deliver these projects and I look forward to their completion at the earliest opportunity.”
Minister Pippa Hackett said: “In Portlaoise this funding will see a continuation of the Triogue Way, a walking and cycling way making traversing Portlaoise easier and safer by foot or bike.
“In Portarlington, there is €70,000 for a scheme to allow for easier access for walkers and cyclists.
“I am aware of the community effort that went into the design and advocacy of this in Port and am delighted to see the funding to get it going.
“Across the county these measures, now becoming obvious in many of our towns and villages, are helping people to make safer and healthier journeys.
“In rural Ireland, I expect we will continue to rely on private car ownership in the medium term but many of us now have the choice to leave the car at home for short journeys.
“I am particularly heartened by this Government’s strong support for children being safe to travel to school under their own scheme.
“Today’s funding for Laois provides for ‘Safe Routes to School’ infrastructure for schools in Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Mountmellick, Maryborough NS, Portlaoise, Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyleix, and Camross National School.
“Make no mistake – this is a direct result of Greens in Government.”
Independent TD Carol Nolan said: “I will always support measures that improve our local communities and assist in the provision of badly needed infrastructure like footpath improvements.
“It was particularly fantastic to see Kinnity Road Active Travel in Kilcormac Village receive €75,000 for their project.
“Some of the funding is quite substantial with almost half a million euros allocated to projects in Tullamore and just under €300k to Clara for footpath improvements.
“I am also delighted to see that St Paul’s N.S., Mountmellick received €40k for its Safe Routes to School Programme.”
Details of the successful projects are as follows:
- Father Browne Avenue Cycle Scheme, Portlaoise € 40,000
- Active Travel Scheme, Beladd, Portlaoise € 30,000
- Active Travel Scheme, Dublin Road, Portlaoise € 40,000
- Footpath Scheme – Carlow Road, Stradbally € 6,000
- Active Travel Scheme, Ballyroan Road, Abbeyleix € 60,000
- Low Cost Junction Tightening / Pedestrian Crossing Schemes €250,000
- SRTS – St Paul’s N.S., Mountmellick € 40,000
- Portlaoise Local Transport Plan € 330,000
- Footpath Scheme – Shanboe, Borris in Ossory € 20,000
- Footpath Scheme – Ballinakill Swimming Pool € 9,500
- Footpath Scheme – Ballyroan Footpath to GAA Club € 3,500
- LSActive Travel Office – Staff Costs € 271,000
- Portlaoise – Bus Stop Accessibility € 60,000
- Rapid Deployment – Dublin Road, Portlaoise € 500,000
- Active Travel Scheme – Southern Circular Road, Portlaoise € 350,000
- Rapid Deployment – R445 Mountrath Rd, Portlaoise € 250,000
- Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Mountmellick € 100,000
- Active Travel, Stradbally Road, Portlaoise € 100,000
- Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Portarlington € 70,000
- Active Travel Scheme, Borris Rd, Portlaoise € 40,000
- Footpath Scheme, R433 Rathdowney € 110,000
- L SRTS – Maryborough NS, Portlaoise € 100,000
- Triogue Way, Portlaoise – Phase 2 € 100,000
- SRTS – Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Mountmellick € 100,000
- SRTS – Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyleix € 100,000
- Active Travel Scheme – Rathleague, Portlaoise € 100,000
- Triogue Way, Portlaoise – Phase 3 € 80,000
- Camross National School, Camross € 40,000
SEE ALSO – Council to acquire 26 new houses in Laois village in bid to alleviate local housing need
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