Three New Green Projects Announced In The Midlands

Monday, 17 October 2022 16:34

However, there's anger that one midlands town was omitted.

The Transport Minister says he's committed to ensuring all public transport projects included in the 'Pathfinder Programme', will be delivered in three years.

Eamon Ryan admitted plans aren't being delivered fast enough, and 'it's not good enough' that many of them are taking 'decades'.

Three of the 35 projects announced today will be facilitated in Westmeath.

New cycle routes in Athlone and Mullingar, and a project to convert the Athlone Town bus fleet to electric are included.

Minister Ryan says they don't want to see any underspending in Active Transport this year and hopes Pathfinder will eradicate that:

However, Green Party representatives are "angered" that Portarlington has missed out on the Pathfinder Project which could have brought more public transport, walking and cycling options to the town.

The party's rep for the Graiguecullen Portarlington area and Edenderry councillor Mark Hackett claim an excellent Pathfinder proposal for Portarlington was passed over by Laois County Council in favour of an inferior project in Portlaoise.

They added that the Portlaoise plan was then not selected by Minister Ryan, who had made the call to local authorities to submit their most innovative, transformative plans for public transport, walking and cycling in their areas.

Mr. Holland says questions remain as to why the project wasn’t submitted;

“I personally worked on the project so I know first-hand that it would have fulfilled the pathfinder criteria. I am asking Laois County Council to explain why the project was not submitted to the pathfinder programme.

“The project for Portarlington would have made a huge difference for people living in several large estates to make the town and amenities much more accessible on foot or my bike. However, this does not mean this and other worthwhile projects cannot be delivered with haste and I now call on the Council to urgently fast track this project using existing active travel funding”.

Councillor Hackett added;

"It is deeply disappointing that an excellent project was passed over. We need an explanation from Laois County Council and a commitment to the project regardless. The funding exists, now we need to ask if the will to see real change does too.

"Pathfinder is an initiative aimed at ensuring the projects selected are provided the impetus to deliver quickly and demonstrate what can be achieved with the right level of ambition and innovation. Unfortunately, now Laois misses out but we will push on regardless.”

The Pathfinder Programme forms a key part of the implementation of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP), which is a part of the Government’s plan to meet Ireland’s requirement to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in the transport sector.