Greens’ refusal to transfer unspent greenway funding delays road development [Video]

Millions of euro left in an unspent fund for greenway projects was blocked from funding new roads that were “shovel ready”, writes Craig Hughes.

The latest row over roads funding has put the Green Party on a collision course with its Coalition partners, particularly Fianna Fáil.

Senior figures within Fianna Fáil said that the current agreement on roads funding “will not survive” if they re-enter government with the Greens.

BusinessPlus.ie has learned that €7m of an underspend in greenways was not redirected to roads spending, despite a request to do so.

The Programme for Government included a provision that there would be a 2:1 spending rule in favour of public transport over new roads projects, which was viewed as a major victory by the Green Party.

However, one Fianna Fáil minister said that the rule “will not survive the Programme for Government” negotiations if the Green Party are involved in a coalition after …