Galway City Council has welcomed an increase in funding to support its development of new and improved sustainable transport projects across the city. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced an allocation of €11.6m for a range of active travel and public transport initiatives which will be developed by Galway City Council in 2026. This funding, which is €550,000 more than in 2025, will support the Council in continuing to deliver new and improved infrastructure that will help to reduce traffic congestion and make Galway a safter, more comfortable environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
A wide series of important projects across Galway City are being supported through this tranche of funding, which includes €9.5 million for Active Travel projects in Galway in 2026. These projects include:
- Ballybane Road and Castlepark Road Cycle Network Scheme (€2.8 million) – This funding will allow for the completion of this project, which is delivering dedicated cycle lanes along both roads along with enhanced facilities for walkers, wheelers and those travelling by bus. This project is scheduled for completion in Q3 2026.
- Bóthar Stiofáin Active Travel Project (€1.7 million) – This will deliver new cycling and walking facilities along Bóthar Stiofáin, connecting a range of residential areas with employment hubs and sporting facilities. Works on this scheme is progressing on schedule and are on track for completion in Q3 2026.
- Western Distributor Road Active Travel Scheme (€875,000) – This funding will allow this project to progress through detailed design and towards construction. The scheme will deliver new cycle lanes along the 3km length of the Western Distributor Road, including an upgrade of the existing mandatory cycle lane. Construction works are expected to begin in 2026.
Each of these projects are co-funded by the NTA and by the government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
In addition, the active travel funding also includes €310,000 for the expansion of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme, which is designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible in primary and post-primary schools to walk, cycle and wheel. Nine schools, which have already successfully applied for to be part of the SRTS scheme, have been allocated funding, with €50,000 each allocated to separate projects at:
- St. Patrick’s National School
- St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra
- Coláiste Éinde Secondary School
- Gaelscoil Dara, Renmore
- Coláiste Iognáid
- St. Joseph’s Special School and Galway Educate Together National School.
€5,000 each has also been awarded for works at Claddagh Primary School and Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, which have recently been announced as part of Round 4 of SRTS. This money will allow for initial works on future schemes to be constructed at these schools.
The funding will also allow for a planning application to be prepared in respect of additional new projects at Monivea Road, Shantalla Road and Clybaun Road. Further funding (€200,000) has also been allocated to allow for the removal of additional access controls (so-called kissing gates) from locations throughout the city, following on from recent works at locations including Ballyloughane, South Park and Terryland Forest Park.
Further to this significant investment in active travel, the NTA has also allocated a further €2.1 million to Galway City Council to through other funding streams, enabling the enhancement of public transport in the city. This includes €600,000 to allow for the construction of a new, permanent bus turning circle and associated facilities at Parkmore Business Park West. This further supports the expanded Route 409 and the new Galway Bus Network Redesign. Funding has also been announced by the NTA to allow for the progression of the BusConnects Cross City Link and Dublin Road Transport Corridor projects, which continue to be progressed by Galway City Council and will play a key role in enhancing the city’s transport infrastructure.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Mike Cubbard has welcomed this multi-million euro funding boost for the city. “I want to thank the National Transport Authority and the government for this multi-million euro investment in Galway’s infrastructure. These developments will encourage more people to choose active travel or public transport and will help us to continue to develop the city in a sustainable fashion. I commend the work of the Active Travel Department to date and look forward to welcoming further progress over the coming year.”
Nationally, a total of €360 million has been announced in Government funding for Active Travel and Greenways in 2026. This investment by the NTA is dedicated to the development of walking and cycling projects that offer safe, sustainable, and healthy transport options to communities around the country. It is expected that 200 km of walking and cycling infrastructure will be delivered this year, in line with the target set out in the Climate Action Plan.
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Further details on the funding announcement by the NTA can be found by clicking on this link.