Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
A total of € 3,693,095 has been allocated for Active Travel and Climate Change Adaption measures in Co. Galway a Fine Gael Senator has said.
Senator Aisling Dolan is delighted to welcome the funding which has been made available under the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus Plan and is part of the overall €115 million package for sustainable transport and the renewal of our transport infrastructure.
ACTIVE TRAVEL
Senator Dolan said: “The Active Travel grant scheme is a very positive initiative which will see communities across Co. Galway benefiting from improved and more accessible walking and cycling infrastructure as well as stimulating local employment.
One of my main objectives is creating more safe places for people to walk and cycle – now over €3.6 million has been secured for co. Galway and I particularly welcome the funding of close to half a million for my hometown of Ballinasloe.
“The projects included in the scheme can make a real difference to our safety and encourage people to become more active with their families – It’s wonderful to see this investment in our towns and villages
- €150k committed to cycleways on the hard shoulder of the old Dublin-Galway Road – R446 - Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Craughwell & Oranmore
- pedestrianised crossing at Brackernagh near Portiuncula Hospital
- upgrading of footpaths on in Derrymullen and Shannonbridge Rd out of Ballinasloe and also in Williamstown & Ballygar
This type of funding of close to €2,700,000 million for Active Travel Measures across Co. Galway will allow initiatives such as
- footpaths and cycle ways that allow children to walk/cycle to school and to local sport clubs;
- the dishing of footpaths and pedestrian crossings that improve access to local amenities and links to public transport,
- and improvements to town and village centres that will support our hard hit retail and hospitality sectors.
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
“A total of €1,005,000 is being made available to Co. Galway for climate change adaptation measures under the Department’s regional and local road maintenance and renewal grant programme.
- €150k to raise the level of roads that flood in South Galway
- €100k committed to resurfacing and repairing flood damage to roads in Glenamaddy
- €140k to improve road surface drainage works on the Lawrencetown to Eyrecourt Rd & in Caltra
“The recent severe weather has again highlighted the challenges presented by climate change on our road infrastructure. The Climate Change Adaptation grants now being provided will help Co. Galway to deal with the essential repairs needed in the aftermath of the severe weather but also to take steps towards making their road networks more resilient in the longer term. And to pay tribute to our excellent roads teams within Galway Co Council that do formidable work in the aftermath of severe storms to protect people and property – this investment is very much welcome to assist these teams’.
Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said: “Families and businesses in our villages, towns and cities right across the country will benefit from these important ‘shovel ready’ projects as soon as November this year. The funding being announced today will go a long way in facilitating a secure environment for our children in their daily commute to school as part of our work on the Safe Routes to School initiative.”
