IT has been announced that €3.5m has been allocated for 20 projects in Kerry under the Active Travel Investment Programme for 2024.

Kerry has been allocated €3.5m of the €1bn allocation nationwide. A number of schools are included under the Safe Routes To School programme including €180,000 for Moyderwell Mercy Primary School; €80,000 for Presentation Secondary School; €80,000 for Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, €80,000 for Sacred Heart Primary School, Castle Street and €80,000 for Scoil Mhuire na mBriathre (CBS Primary) (see full list below).

Kerry County Council can use the funds to improve infrastructure such as footpaths, cycle tracks, greenway connections and road junctions, making it safer for people of all ages and abilities to embrace active modes of travel.

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Welcoming the announcement, Tralee Local Election Candidate, Anluan Dunne, said: “This is another welcome allocation of funding to enable the Council to deliver for people walking and on bicycles. Our towns and villages are choked with traffic every day, particularly at school times, and this funding should be used to help people get around more easily. We need the ambition shown by government in providing the funding, matched by our Council in delivering the projects on the ground.”

Mr. Dunne continued: “Significant funding has been made available for years by The Department of Transport, but the delivery simply isn’t happening fast enough. The Greenway in Tralee, for example, has no safe connection into the town centre. Similarly, there are junctions around the town which are dangerous for pedestrians which have not been upgraded in decades. This funding needs to be used to make getting around on foot or by bike safer, easier and more convenient.”

Concluding, Mr. Dunne said: “While this new round of funding is extremely welcome, and with so many significant projects delivered across the country, I find it disappointing that there has been little or no progress in Tralee in recent times. There are no projects in Tralee included in this round of funding of major significance, which indicates to me that none were applied for. We need far more ambition for our County Town which is relatively flat and easy to get around on a bike or on foot.”