Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Cycle Lanes.

Michael Ring

Question:

532 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will ensure that all future roads in County Mayo incorporate a cycle lane to recognise European standards in the plans for road improvement or widening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9220/98]

Michael Ring

Question:

533 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to ensure that funding for a cycle lane is incorporated in any further sanctions of money for road improvements in view of the safety consideration. [9221/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.

The provision of cycle facitities on non-national roads, may be funded from local authorities' own resources provision or from the discretionary improvement grant made available by my Department. My Department's memorandum on grants for non-national roads 1996 - 1999 reminds local authorities of the need to ensure that the surface of hard shoulders is adequately maintained so as to ensure the safety and convenience of pedal cyclists, particularly where a significant number of cyclists use the road, and states that consideration should be given to the provision of facilities for cyclists where such is warranted on existing roads in urban areas and in the development of new road schemes.

The provision and funding of cycle lanes on national roads is a matter for local authorities and the National Roads Authority.

In so far as the Dublin Transportation Initiative area is concerned, grants are paid to local authorities in the DTI area by the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) for specific traffic management projects. An amount of almost £9 million is available to the DTO in 1998 for such projects of which over £2 million has been allocated to local authorities in the DTI area for cycle facilities, in support of the Dublin Cycle Network, which was launched last December by DTO in co-operation with the Dublin local authorities.

As regards standards for cycle lanes, a design manual for the provision of cycle facilities in urban areas was recently issued by my Department to relevant local authorities. It is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the design and provision of cycle facilities, based largely on the approach used successfully in the Netherlands.