Laois gets €3.5 million for footpaths, cycle lanes and bus stops from National Transport Authority

Laois is getting €3.5 million to increase Active Travel, to encourage people out of their cars and onto bicycles, footpaths and public transport.

The Government is giving the county about 1.2% of the €290m it has awarded in 2024 Active Travel Grants. 

Portlaoise will get over half of the money, a total of €1.765 million of direct investment through Laois County Council.

The Father Browne Avenue Cycle Scheme is getting €50,000. The Active Travel Scheme for the Dublin Road gets another €50,000. Portlaoise Local Transport Plan gets €75,000.  Rapid Deployment on the R445 Mountrath Rd gets €300,000. An Active Travel Scheme on the Borris Rd, Portlaoise has won €400,000.

The Triogue Way, Portlaoise - Phase 2- Parklands gets €750,000 and Phase 3 from the Triogue way to the N80 road another €60,000. A Park and Stride for schoolchildren at Summerhill, Portlaoise gets €30,000. Portlaoise's new shared E-bike enabling works get €50,000. 

The town will also share in county wide funding, with €500,000 for enhancement to bus stops and €200,000 towards Low Cost Junction Tightening / Pedestrian Crossing Schemes.

Nearly a tenth of the money is allocated to wages, at €330,000 for the Active Travel Office staff costs.

In the rest of Laois, Portarlington is to get € 200,005 for paths, with €200,000 for an Active Travel Scheme on Station Road and Canal Road, and €5,000 for a permeability scheme.

Mountmellick will get €300,000 for Active Travel and a Permeability Scheme, and €50,000 for Safe Route to School works for St Paul's National School in Irishtown.

The only other recipient in Laois is Camross village, where Camross National School will get €150,000 towards paths under the Safe Route to School heading.

Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, welcomes the €3.5 million of Government funding for Laois Active Travel infrastructure for 2024.

"€1.75 million of this funding will be allocated towards projects in Portlaoise. This investment will further develop Triogue Way, Portlaoise, Active Travel schemes on the Borris Road and the Dublin Road, and will fund Rapid Deployment on the Mountrath Road to deliver the Active Travel scheme in a quicker timeframe.

"The Bus Stop Enhancement Programme will receive €500,000 in Laois to develop and improve bus stops across the County.

"€300,000 has been allocated in Mountmellick for the Permeability scheme to develop the town where people can walk or cycle through the area safely. A further €50,000 will be used for the Safe Routes to School programme for St. Paul’s National School, Mountmellick.

"€200,000 has also been allocated for Station Road and Canal Road in Portarlington to make the roads safer for walking and cycling.

"At Camross National School, €150,000 funding will be used for the Safe Routes to School programme to improve safety at the school gate, improve access routes to the school by improving walking and cycling infrastructure and increase the number of students who cycle to school.

"This is very welcome funding that will make our roads much safer for many walkers and cyclists, especially families and children walking or cycling to school or work, or for leisure every day," he said.

Laois did well this year, according to Laois County Council Director of Services for roads Simon Walton.

"Laois County Council welcomes the €3.5m allocation, provided by the National Transport Authority, for the continued introduction of Active Travel Projects in 2024. The Council has engaged regularly with the NTA to support and advise the allocation provided. In accordance with NTA requirements, funded schemes are focussed on locations where a critical mass can benefit from the introduction of the measures.

"The funding provided to Laois County Council compares favourably to previous years," he said.

Locations of the upgraded bus stops are not yet confirmed.

"The €500,000 provided for Bus Stop Enhancement will allow for the upgrade of bus stops, at various locations across the County. The Council is required to submit a programme of bus stop locations and associated works to the NTA, for the NTA’s agreement, prior to any works commencing. We are currently preparing the programme," Mr Walton said.

Laois Active Travel Investment Grants 2024

Father Browne Avenue Cycle Scheme, Portlaoise € 50,000

Active Travel Scheme, Dublin Road, Portlaoise € 50,000

Low Cost Junction Tightening / Pedestrian Crossing Schemes € 200,000

SRTS - St Paul's N.S., Mountmellick € 50,000

Portlaoise Local Transport Plan € 75,000

Active Travel Office - Staff Costs € 330,000

Rapid Deployment - R445 Mountrath Rd, Portlaoise € 300,000

Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Mountmellick € 300,000

Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Portarlington € 5,000

Active Travel Scheme, Borris Rd, Portlaoise € 400,000

Triogue Way, Portlaoise - Phase 2- Parklands € 750,000

Triogue Way, Portlaoise - Phase 3 -Trogue way to N80 € 60,000

SRTS - Camross National School, Camross -R2 € 150,000

Park and Stride, Summerhill, Portlaoise € 30,000

Active Travel Scheme, Station Road & Canal Road, Portarlington € 200,000

Shared e-bike enabling works € 50,000

Bus Stop Enhancement Programme € 500,000

The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD and Minister of State Jack Chambers TD joined National Transport Authority (NTA) Deputy CEO Hugh Creegan to announce €290m in funding to local authorities across Ireland to support the rollout of walking and cycling infrastructure in 2024. 

This latest allocation means 2024 will be the year that the Government’s total investment for active travel infrastructure since 2020 will pass the €1bn mark. This investment has seen more than 600km of cycling, walking and wheeling infrastructure delivered since 2020 under the NTA Active Travel Programme. 

The Active Travel Investment Programme for 2024 will fund approximately 800 new and existing Active Travel projects.  

Hugh Creegan is Deputy CEO of the National Transport Authority.

“Building on the progress of recent years, the €290m being made available this year will ensure the delivery of cycle lanes and footpaths as well as pedestrian and cycling bridges across the country. All of these active travel projects will make it easier and safer than ever before for people to cycle, walk or wheel within and beyond their local area.  

“The NTA will work alongside local authorities to help deliver the projects which have been given funding and identify additional opportunities across the year that can help encourage people to choose sustainable transport modes.”  

The Minister for Transport is Eamon Ryan.

“A key commitment in the Programme for Government and something that has been a cornerstone of our National Transport strategy over the past few years has been the dedication to making walking, cycling and wheeling safer and much more accessible throughout the country. It’s great that this year we will hit the €1bn investment mark.

"We are seeing the impact of this continued and substantial investment in our towns, villages and cities, where we are delivering large and small scale projects that are transforming where we live, making them much more attractive, safer and healthier. Many of the most attractive cities and towns in the world are the ones that prioritise active travel and now many more locations here in Ireland can join this list of great places to live and visit.”