More than €50m funding allocated to greenways and active travel in Cork
Cork County Council has been allocated nearly €20.3m for active travel measures, and another €1,875,000 for greenway projects. A section of the Midleton to Youghal greenway at Mogeely, Cork.
Cork is to benefit from a €58.86m investment in active travel and greenway projects under funding announced by the department of transport this morning.
Cork City Council has been allocated €36.7m towards active travel measures, including some greenway progression works, while Cork County Council has been allocated nearly €20.3m on active travel measures, and another €1,875,000 for greenway projects.
The funding marks an increase from the €54.5m allocated to Cork last year, comprising €34.5m to Cork city and €20.9m to Cork county.
Projects in Cork city for 2026 include over €7 Million for Active Travel and road improvements in Lehenaghmore; €2m for the Glanmire to Riverstown Greenway; €1.5m for the Northern Distributor Road Route Selection; €1.3m for upgrades to Banduff Road, €2.5m for the Dunkettle Road and €4.2m for the Knockfree Avenue/Knockpogue Avenue Active Travel Scheme.
In Cork county, €2.2m pedestrian will go towards a pedestrian and cycle route from Carrigtwohill to Midleton and €4m for a route from Ballinacurra to Midleton, as well as €1.5m for Little Island multi-modal infrastructure and €1.7m to progress Carrigaline – Ringaskiddy – Passage West Cycle Routes.
Significant funding for dozens of Safe Routes to School projects across Cork city and county has also been announced, including €300,000 for Bishopstown Community School, and over €200,000 for St. Lukes NS Douglas.
Cork TD and minister of state at the department of transport Jerry Buttimer welcomed the funding.
"I can see that Cork is thriving in so many ways," he said. "However, our growth needs to be met with sustained investment in transport and today’s allocations are a part of that.
“We will have another significant roads funding announcement within the next few weeks, but today’s Active Travel and Greenway measures support people’s movement, promote the tourism and leisure offerings of our City and County, and continue to enhance our public realm.”
He added that he is particularly pleased with the funding for Lehenaghmore, a project he has been working on since he as first elected as a Senator in 2007, as well as the plans to improve connectivity between Carrigaline, Passage West and the city.
The Cork investment is part of a total of €360m announced for projects across Ireland, including €290m for the Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme in the National Transport Authority (NTA), €8m for smaller-scale behavioural change and training programmes and €62m for greenways. It is expected that 200 km of walking and cycling infrastructure will be delivered in 2026 nationally.
NTA Chief Executive Anne Shaw said: “The funding commitment announced today will allow the NTA to support every local authority across the country as they continue to deliver safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists, improved public spaces to enjoy, and an overall environment where more and more of us can choose active and sustainable travel for our everyday journeys.
"We look forward to seeing what our local authorities can achieve with this funding in 2026 and in the years to come.”
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