Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe has welcomed today’s launch of several schemes that will improve active travel infrastructure across all four local authority areas in Dublin by 2025. The schemes are part of the “Five Cities Active Travel demonstrator” for the city, and include plans to  transform the city centre into a low-traffic environment; improve cycling infrastructure in Tallaght and Swords; and implement the 10-minute neighbourhood model in Castletymon and Dún Laoghaire.

MEP Cuffe said: “The schemes announced for Dublin today will be transformative for many people living across our city, and we are going to see results in rapid time. Three years from now, new cycle networks in Tallaght and Swords will connect homes with schools, hospitals, and Dublin Airport. Dublin city centre is also set to become a low-traffic environment, which is great news for pedestrians, visitors, and residents alike.

“These projects have enormous potential to improve quality of life for Dublin residents, by facilitating cheaper, cleaner travel that improves air quality and lowers our emissions. It also means a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists to travel around our city, and quickly. I hope to see more projects like these in the future as we leave car-centric city planning in the past.”

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. today launched the Pathfinder Programme of 35 exemplar transport projects to be delivered by local authorities and agencies around the country within the next three years. The projects were selected following Minister Ryan’s call to local authorities over the summer to submit their most innovative, transformative plans for public transport, walking and cycling in their areas – the projects that could make the greatest difference to people living in their counties with the objective of ensuring delivery of these projects by 2025.