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By Michelle Crean

Plans for Killarney's new €5m interconnected cycle paths came a step closer this week with €2m announced for the project which is set to begin this summer. Funding was released under the Active Travel Programme which will include a total of 3.8km of cycle paths on Rock Road, Lewis Road, Park Road, the Gaelscoil Road and Deerpark Road.

€704,835 was allocated to the Rock Road section, €113,500 for the Deerpark Road/Gaelscoil Junction, and €781,165 for the Gaelscoil/Chestnut Drive under the Kerry Active Travel 2021 Allocations. The ambitious project is due to go to tender shortly with construction expected to begin in the mid to late summer.

A further €550,000 was allocated to the Flesk Walkway and Cycleway in Killarney, and €300,000 for other works on Rock Road.

The Cathaoirleach and Chief Executive of Kerry County Council have welcomed the announcement of a total of €5.6m for the county, which will also include work in Tralee, Listowel, Dingle, Killorglin and Kenmare.

Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen said that critical leisure and recreational infrastructure projects across Kerry would benefit from the funding.

"It is great news for the county and an acknowledgement of the hard work of Kerry County Council in developing these projects," he said.

"The development of our cycling and walking infrastructure is as important as it ever was and will ensure that walkers and cyclists will be able to avail of improved facilities."

Chief Executive Moira Murrell said that the development of sustainable transport infrastructure remained a key priority for the local authority.

"I would like to thank Kerry County Council staff who have developed these projects in recent years and which can now progress to being constructed for the benefit of all our citizens," she said.