June 2012
Councillor Oliver Tully, Chairman of Louth County Council welcomes the funding allocation by Minister for Public Transport Alan Kelly for cycle routes.
The funding will see sixteen separate cycling projects built across the country over the next two to years amounting to an additional 334 kilometres of cycleway as part of the National Cycle Network.
Cllr Tully welcomes the allocation of funding for a primarily off-road cycle/walkway from Drogheda Ramparts to Oldbridge entrance (Battle of the Boyne Site), with future potential for an extension on to Newgrange visitor centre. The Minister also allocated funding for a 6.2km Greenway along an old railway line between Greens Quay, Omeath and Carlingford, with future potential for this route to form part of a 32km route from Dundalk to Carlingford and on to Newry.
Speaking as he announced bike week, Minister Kelly stated: “These projects will enhance both the experience and attractiveness of cycling across the country.”
“This is part of our efforts to create a more cycle-friendly culture across the country and to try and get as many people out of their cars and onto the bikes. Having high-quality routes across the country is a key part of that. Also many of these routes have huge tourism potential so hopefully it will lead to some job creation,” added Minister Kelly.
The funding follows a commitment in the programme for Government to continue National Cycle Policy Framework. A competitive funding scheme was launched in March 2012 to fund Local Authorities to deliver cycling routes around the country which could act as both transport corridors and recreational and tourism amenities.
The programme will deliver a wide variety of route types, including on road routes along rural roads and former national roads, and off-road routes along former rail lines and canal tow paths. The routes will provide valuable transport and recreational infrastructure, with some of the routes having the potential to become tourism attractions in their own right.
The announcement comes just weeks before National Bike Week starting June 16th which will see a series of cycling events being held across the country.
