Over €2 million allocated to Leitrim for Active Travel projects

Leitrim County Council have received a substantial allocation of a whopping €2.4 million for 20 projects under the Active Travel scheme.

The Active Travel programme is an initiative supported by the National Transport Authority set out to encourage people to walk or cycle to their destinations.

Communities up and down the country are set to benefit from the funding with projects such as Ballinamore Junction Upgrade, Manorhamilton Park, Carrick on Shannon - Attifinlay Roundabout to Summerhill Active Travel Scheme and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) R1 - St Clare’s National School.

Over €500,000 has been provided under the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme for 2025.

As part of the SRTS programme, St Clare’s National School in Manorhamilton will receive €350,000 and Mohill Community School will receive €250,000.

“We’re delighted with the commitment from the NTA to allocate €350,000 in the Safe Routes to School programme,” said Laura Tully, Principal of St Clare’s National School.

“My understanding is it’s currently at detailed design and procurement with the Council, but we are very optimistic that the work will be completed during the second quarter of this year.

“This will greatly enhance and improve our school entrance but most importantly it will provide for a much safer accessibility to our school grounds for our pupils and wider school community,” Ms Tully concluded.

Other Leitrim schools receiving SRTS funding include Ballinamore Scoil Chlann Naofa (€30,000), Drumshanbo Vocational School (€30,000) and Drumeela (€60,000).

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In Carrick-on-Shannon, €10,000 will be allocated to Glas na hAbhainn Housing Estate Link, €140,000 for Attifinlay Roundabout to Summerhill Active Travel Scheme, €20,000 for Leitrim Road and €95,000 for Carrick-on-Shannon Junction tightening and pedestrian crossing.

North of the county, Manorhamilton will receive €105,000 for the upgrade of Park Road.

Drumshanbo will see €70,000 to upgrade the town junction and Dromahair will receive €35,000 for the Churchfield Active Travel link.

€130,000 is to be allocated to upgrade Ballinamore junction and €55,000 for Tully Heights connection to Town Environs.

Aughnasheelin Active Travel Link will receive €70,000, and Roosky Bridge Active Travel will see €20,000.

€80,000 will go towards Carrigallen Active Travel Link.

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Paddy O’Rourke, has welcomed the funding allocated for Carrigallen, which will facilitate the installation of a pedestrian crossing and footpath at the Carrigallen Primary Care Centre.

A Carrigallen resident, Cllr O’Rourke had put forward a motion before Ballinamore Municipal District in 2023 advocating for the provision of a pedestrian crossing.

“We are now going to see road safety works to be carried out at the Primary Care Centre along with road safety works also at Drumeela National School.

“The works will see speed reduction works carried out. The works in particular at Drumeela National School will come as a relief to teachers and staff who are too well aware of the dangers whilst picking up and dropping off children,” Cllr O’Rourke concluded.

Finally, €30,000 will go towards cycle parking infrastructure and €320,000 to Leitrim County Council for staff costs.

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