166. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the key measures taken to develop active travel since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53489/26]

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.

The Government is committed to the provision of improved and expanded walking and cycling infrastructure both in our urban centres and in towns and villages across Ireland. In 2021, the Active Travel Infrastructure Programme was expanded to include the 19 local authority areas outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities. Since then, over €1 billion has been invested in walking and cycling projects across the country.

€290 million was allocated to the NTA's Active Travel and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme alone in 2025 with actual spend reaching over €296 million invested in around 1,000 projects nationwide. Key projects completed last year include two phases of the Royal Canal Greenway, the Bray DART Interchange, the Battery Road Active Travel Scheme in Longford and the Marina Promenade and Mahon Active Travel scheme in Cork. In addition, the funding supported numerous junction upgrades and the installation of new pedestrian crossings, all of which improve pedestrian and cyclists' safety.

With a similar level of funding having been allocated for 2026, my Department has continued to invest in walking and cycling projects around the country. Projects due to be completed in 2026 include the Glanmire Urban Greenway in Cork, the Kilmacrennan Road Active Travel Scheme in Donegal and the Ballybane and Castlepark Cycle Network in Galway City. Works have already been completed in 2026 on a number of key Active Travel schemes such as the Saunders Pedestrian & Cycle Bridge in Westmeath, Granard Active Travel Scheme in Longford and the Portmarnock Railway Bridge Upgrade in Fingal.

The 150th Smarter Travel Mark was awarded earlier this year. The Smarter Travel Mark is an award issued by the NTA which recognises organisations and campuses who encourage their staff or students to travel via sustainable transport modes. In addition, by the end of June over 30,000 primary school students have received cycle training through Cycling Ireland's CycleRight programme, of which my Department is the majority funding body. This figure includes almost 8,500 students in DEIS schools, who receive a greater Government subvention towards the training programme. The CycleRight programme aims to equip primary school students with the skills and confidence to choose cycling as a transport mode and instil sustainable travel habits that they can carry through into adult life.

Work will continue across all Active Travel projects and programmes throughout the second half of 2026, and, with a similar level of investment earmarked for walking and cycling annually to 2030, I hope that the high level of output will continue to the end of the decade.