€4.5 million has been allocated to 28 active travel projects in Clare for public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure along with providing safe routes to six primary schools in the county.

Welcoming the allocation to Clare County Council from the National Transport Authority (NTA) Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said it was significant that the current round of funding included assessment and preparatory work on future projects such as bridge crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

He was also glad that the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) was extended to an additional six Clare schools with more than €350,000 provided for new and safer walking and cycling routes alleviating congestion at and increasing the number of students who walk or cycle to school.

“The National funding of €290 million for the current year covers 1,200 Active Travel projects. This will contribute to the development of almost a thousand kilometres of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure across the country by 2025.

“I look forward to seeing these projects getting under way in Clare over the coming months and I will work with Clare County Council to ensure they are delivered as quickly as possible,” Deputy Carey added.

The full list of Clare projects to benefit from the latest allocation are:

Tulla Road Active Travel Scheme, Ennis (€1,798,215); Ballycasey Close Green Area, Ennis (€549,287); Clare County Council Active Travel Office Staff Costs (€400,000);  Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges Assessment (€219,217); Killaloe Footpaths (€185,065); Miltown Malbay footpaths (€150,000); Ballybeg footpath, Ennis (€150,000); Clonmoney National School SRTS (€150,000);  Ennis Public Lighting (€115,560); Tulla footpaths (€105,000); Ennis Town LTP (€100,000); Ennis Town Enhancement, Co-Creating (€100,000); Holy Family National School, Ennis SRTS (€100,000). 

Allocations of under €100,000 went to Saint Flannan’s National School, Inagh SRTS (€81,389); Ardnacrusha to Athlunkard Bridge Active Travel Scheme (€80,000); Spanish Point Footpaths (€75,000); Kilmaley Footpaths (€47,719); Limerick Road Active Travel Scheme, Ennis (€20,000); Lahinch Road Active Travel Scheme, Ennis (€15,000); Lissycasey Footpaths (€13,469); Lisdoonvarna Pedestrian Crossings (€11,000); Gort Road Active Travel Scheme, Ennis (€10,000); Gaelscoil Ennis SRTS (€5,000); Ennis National School SRTS (€5,000); St Mochulla’s National School Tulla SRTS (€5,000); Bothar Sioda Active Travel Scheme, Shannon (€5,000); Sixmilebridge Permeability Link (€3,270); Drumindoora Walking/Cycling Infrastructure (€809).

PHOTO: ENNIS NATIONAL SCHOOL IS ONE OF SIX CLARE SCHOOLS TO BENEFIT FROM THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS) PROJECT