Government 'committed to expanding' greenway infrastructure
There is a government commitment to “expanding our active travel and greenway infrastructure network”, according to Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien.
“This commitment was demonstrated by the allocation of €360 million to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2026,” he added.
The minister was asked in parliament by Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly for details on money invested in greenways, the location and length of greenways, and future plans for the project.
Minister O’Brien replied: “I am responsible for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to national and regional greenways.
“The planning, design and construction of the greenways programme is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII took this role over from the Department of Transport in late 2021."
He added that, since 2021, “significant investment has been made in walking and cycling infrastructure”.
The minister said: “These investment levels recognise that high quality walking and cycling infrastructure is required to enable modal shift and to achieve the Climate Action Plan target of reducing transport emissions by 50% by 2030."
The total allocation to TII in respect of the delivery of greenway and active travel on national roads schemes (the latter since 2024) since 2021 is outlined below:
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
| Funding allocated to TII | €63.5m | €60m | €63m | €72m | €67m | €59.5m |
Minister O’Brien added: “The Department of Transport generally provides funding to greenways over 20km in length or shorter distances where it is proposed to join a number of existing greenways to form a longer, more strategic route.”
The table below lists completed greenways that have received funding from the Department of Transport:
| Department of Transport-funded greenway route | Route length (km) |
| Midleton – Youghal Greenway | 23 |
| Grand Canal Greenway (works ongoing) | 131 |
| Royal Canal Greenway (works ongoing) | 130 |
| Limerick Greenway | 40 |
| Tralee to Fenit Greenway | 13.6 |
| Listowel to Abbeyfeale | 16 |
| Great Western Greenway | 49 |
| Carlingford Lough Greenway | 20 |
| Waterford Greenway | 48 |
| Old Rail Trail | 43 |
| Suir Blueway | 21 |
| Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway | 30 |
| Strabane to Castlefin | 16 |
| Derry to Three Trees | 22 |
| South East Greenway (works ongoing) | 8 |
| South Kerry Greenway (works ongoing) | 3 |
Funding and controversy
Minister O’Brien said: “I have been advised that approximately 300km of greenways has been opened for public use since 2021.
“This government is committed to expanding our active travel and greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in our cities, towns, villages, and rural areas.
“This commitment was demonstrated by the allocation of €360 million to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2026.”
The minister added that future investment in specific greenway schemes “will be determined by a range of criteria”.
He said: “In this regard, TII are the approving authority responsible for the National and Regional Greenways programme.
"They work with local authorities via their Regional Management Structure in considering funding requests submitted from local authorities on an annual basis.”
Greenways have been contentious on several occasions in recent years.
Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins has spoken out against what he describes as the “coordinated campaign of coercion, both subtle and explicit, that is actively undermining the financial viability of farmland” when it comes to greenway compulsory purchase order (CPO) processes.
Some greenways, such as the Cooley greenway in Co. Louth, have been subject to numerous objections.
Additionally, late last year, protests reached the gates of Leinster House, as representatives of farming and rural organisations gathered to voice their concerns about CPOs and greenways.
