Rural Wicklow Transport Projects Set To Receive A Financial Boost.

Wicklow County Council Chief Executive Brian Gleeson has proposed to ring-fence €1 million in funding for rural projects.

Wicklow County Council Chief Executive Brian Gleeson has proposed to ring-fence €1 million in funding for rural projects after members of Baltinglass Municipal District voiced their anger over the lack of NTA Active Travel funding for their area at a meeting on Monday. The Active Travel Investment Programme is run by the National Travel Authority and allocates funding to councils for active cycling and walking infrastructure. Each Municipal District was asked to provide a list of projects suitable for the programme and a total of 122 projects were received, totalling €20 million. The Active Travel team reviewed the projects and compiled a list of 79 projects which were then submitted to the NTA, with an allocation of €11,692 sought. Following a review of the submitted projects, the NTA awarded funding of €9,007,500 for 63 projects. Gleeson acknowledged the shortfall in Active Travel allocations for west Wicklow and rural locations, and proposed to provide funding from Development Levies for suitable rural projects. Later in the meeting he confirmed a figure of €1 million.