Funding totalling €932,000 is being made available for the development of a 4.8km off-road cycle and walking route linking Passage West to Rochestown in Cork.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has also allocated €150,000 for a 1,600m off-road cycle track linking Kilmurray with the Schoolhouse Road adjacent to Limerick city.

He said the aim of this new funding is to promote cycling, or walking, where possible.

"Investing in safe, attractive cycling and walking facilities will help to encourage more people out of their cars, particularly for short journeys," said the Minister.

"This announcement follows the recent success of National Bike Week in June and the announcement of €1.2m in funding for a new walking and cycling network for Carriagline, Co Cork."

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Minister Dempsey said he is determined to make funding available for "good sustainable travel projects" across the country.

"Investment in cycling and walking infrastructure makes good sense and I plan to announce more funding for other quality sustainable transport projects nationwide in the near future.

"By continuing our investment in high quality public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure we can make real progress in moving Ireland from our culture of high car dependency," he said.

The new route in Cork will be within the proposed National Heritage Area.

The project in Limerick will improve access to the University of Limerick as well as giving the county council and local businesses along the proposed route the opportunity to pilot some innovative sustainable travel solutions.

The Passage West to Rochestown proposed route will be along a disused rail line that is already in the ownership of the local authority.

There is the potential to extend the route to Douglas at a later stage, a Transport Ministry spokesman said.

(PR/BMcC)