Funding of €32.5m for almost 200 sustainable transport projects in the Dublin region from the National Transport Authority, including the further development of 47 cycle routes, has been announced by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and Minster of State for Commuter Transport Alan Kelly.

Key projects which can now be completed in the Greater Dublin Area include the Rosie Hackett Bridge for public transport over the Liffey, removing the 'pinch point' at the Cat & Cage on the Drumcondra Road to make room for new bus lanes and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge at Dodder Valley in Tallaght.

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The funding has been allocated for 193 projects at various stages of design, planning, and construction in the four Dublin local authorities, and in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. There is a special emphasis on cycling this year with 47 separate cycle routes in the plan, some starting from scratch and others being extended. More than €30m of the total funding is allocated to projects devoted to cycling or with a cycling component, like new parking facilities or cycle access routes, including €600,000 to extend the Dublin Bikes scheme.

"Dublin and the surrounding counties have really taken to cycling. From the Government's point of view it makes sense to invest in cycling because it's effective, it's healthy and it's also extremely efficient. The single best way to tackle traffic congestion is to support people who get out of their cars and on to bikes, buses, or other alternatives. It also makes the city a nicer place to live, to work and to visit, whether as residents or tourists," Minister Varadkar said.

(CD/JP)