€3.2m for walkways and cycling in Wexford

By Dan Walsh

Wexford is to receive a major funding boost for the development of cycle and walkways in communities around Co. Wexford that will be better with safe and people-friendly corridors to visit friends, go to the shops, or cycle or walk to school, sports training and other activities.

Fine Gael Deputy Paul Kehoe was speaking following confirmation that the National Transport Authority has allocated funds to Ireland’s local authorities, with an overall fund of €290m to be spent on walking and cycling infrastructure this year.

“This large scale investment will enable councils to support approximately 1,200 Active Travel schemes nationwide,” said Deputy Kehoe, who added: “I am particularly pleased to report that Wexford County Council has been allocated €3,280,298 to develop and maintain cycle lanes, widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges and pedestrian crossings locally.”

Some of the projects in Wexford receiving funding include several schools:

Scoil Mhuire Rosslaire €80,000.

Scoil Naomh Abbann €80,000.

Saint Aidan’s €80,000.

Gorey Central School €20,000.

Ramsgrange Community School €20,000.

St. Patrick’s N.S. Crossabeg: €20,000.

In addition, there are a few other projects that will transform the local area;

€1,500,000: Newtown Road Active Travel Pathfinder Scheme.

€570,000; Roxborough Active Travel Pathfinder Scheme.

€59,298; Gorey Footpath Improvement Schemes.

“There is an assumption that Greenways, cycleways or walkways are primarily tourism amenities. While they do enhance our local tourism offerings in Wexford, first and foremost they are about local people and improving local life, connecting suburbs, local villages or townlands that often become disconnected from one another because of busy and dangerous roads,” said Deputy Kehoe.

“2023 is going to be an important year for active travel. With a growing number of active travel schemes moving from design into construction and delivery, we can encourage more people across the county to walk or cycle within and beyond their local community,” he concluded.