HUMPHREYS CONDEMNS WITHDRAWAL OF FUNDING FOR CYCLE LANES

Cycle lane and greenway projects in Dublin are being long fingered as funding for design work has being withdrawn. The National Transport Authority has told Dublin City Council to stop work on a number of projects until the end of 2017, including the Dodder Greenway, the Grand Canal Cycleway, the Clonskeagh to City Centre Cycleway, and phase 4 of the Royal Canal Cycleway. The Heuston to Chapelizod Greenway has also been delayed due to the lack of a project engineer.

Senator Kevin Humphreys has condemned the withdrawal of funding and extensive delays in bringing forward these projects. ‘I call on Minister Shane Ross to reverse these decisions and prioritise funding for these much needed projects. Dublin can’t wait over two years for basic design works when our infrastructure needs funding and upgrading now’

“Cycling plays a key role in transport in our city. At this stage we should be investing in this clean green transport for our city not putting road blocks and further delays to developing this key infrastructure.

“Cycling can play a role in reducing our carbon emissions in the city and provide a safe healthy transport alternative for Dubliners. I am also concerned that projects across the country may also be long fingered and money for cycling being allocated to other projects to secure the support of Independents or shore up overruns in other areas.

“Senator Humphreys is calling on Minister Ross to immediately intervene to put adequate funding and resources in place to ensure that these critical projects go ahead.