Funding applications are now open for the National and Regional Greenways programme.

Up to €53 million is available for Greenway projects between 2019 – 2021, with funding likely to be awarded in the first half of next year.

Announcing that applications are open, Transport Minister Shane Ross said: "Greenways are one of the exciting developments to Irish tourism in recent time. For that reason, today, I am issuing a call for applications for €53 million of funding for Greenways. Greenways offer a unique way to see our beautiful country and I am excited to see more develop in the coming years.

"Through this funding call we are looking to develop greenways of scale that are appropriately segregated from traffic and provide access to beautiful scenery."

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He continued: "I am well aware that there is considerable pent-up demand for greenways around the country and I look forward to receiving many quality applications. I urge potential applicants to progress their planning and design of greenways, in cooperation with communities and land owners, as far as possible in advance of making any application for funding and to resolve any land access issues."

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, added: "Having cycled the Great Western Greenway and the Waterford Greenway, I have seen at first hand the transformation that greenways can provide to our rural towns and villages, the job creation potential is significant and bringing people to parts of our country that they may not have considered visiting before is hugely beneficial in spreading tourism around all parts of the country.

"Activity Tourism is a huge focus for Ireland now and providing high quality walking and cycling infrastructure will assist in attracting the large number of foreign tourists interested in coming here."

The closing date for completed application forms is 30 November.

(LM)