€4.6 million for Louth for Carlingford Greenway and Active Travel

Louth County Council has been allocated €4,600,000 in Government funding for Active Travel and Greenways in 2026, as part of a €360 million package in Government funding for projects across the State.

€4,000,000 of the funding has been allocated to Active Travel projects in Louth, with €600,000 allocated to the Dundalk Bay to Carlingford Lough Greenway.

The announcement was made today by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, along with Minister of State Seán Canney and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer.

The Goverment says that the investment “is dedicated to the development of walking and cycling projects that offer safe, sustainable and healthy transport options to communities around the country”.

The Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme in the National Transport Authority (NTA) was allocated €290 million for the development of walking and cycling infrastructure in villages, towns and cities.

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An additional €8 million is available to fund smaller-scale behavioural change and training programmes. The remaining €62 million has been allocated to deliver Greenway projects across Ireland.

Projects in north and mid-Louth to receive funding for 2026 include:

• Active Travel Dundalk: R132 inner Relief Road €800,000
• Ard Easmuinn Roadd to Train Station / Friary School & Dundalk Bus Station to Rail Station. €110,000
• Mill Street , Dundalk (from Inner Relief rd junction to Castle Road junction 440m), €65,000
• R132 Inner relief rd Tain bridge, € 25,000
• Hoeys Lane (from junction with Dublin Street to Junction with Naughtons Close), € 20,000
• Dundalk: R132 Dublin Road-Rank Xerox Jcn to Greengates, € 30,000
• Inner relief road to Riverside walk Dublin Road R215. € 2,500
• Hill Street Bridge to Train Station, € 15,000
• College Heights to Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk €2,500
• Safe Routes to School - Bellurgan National School, Dundalk, €825,000
• Safe Routes to School - St Marys National School, Knockbridge, Co Louth, €525,000
• Safe Routes to School - St Louis secondary school Dundalk, € 35,000
• Safe Routes to School - St. Kevins NS. Philipstown, Dunleer, € 30,000
• Safe Routes to School - Scoil Phadraig Naofa, €30,000
• Safe Routes to School - Mullaghbuoy National School, € 6,500
• Safe Routes to School - Dromiskin Mixed School, €2,500
• Safe Routes to School - Scoil Mhuire na nGael. €2,500
• Safe Routes to School - Tallanstown NS, €2,500
• Staff costs Active Travel Team, €320,000.

Announcing the €360 million in national funding, Minister O'Brien said that: “The allocation of €360 million in 2026 for active travel and greenway projects demonstrates the Government’s commitment to expanding sustainable transport options and delivering on the provision of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.

“The €290 million invested in the NTA’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme will assist with the development of key active travel networks in our villages, towns and cities, making walking and cycling a viable option for more of our population.

“The investment of €62 million in our Greenways network, meanwhile, will help deliver key projects all over the country and is another step towards the development of a National Cycle Network.”

The Department of Transport said that it is expected that 200 km of walking and cycling infrastructure will be delivered in 2026, in line with the target set out in the Climate Action Plan.