Vol. 567 No. 2
106 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport the estimated amount of money spent in Dublin in 2002 on the provision of new cycling facilities; his forecast for the budget that will be spent on designing and building new cycling facilities in 2003; and the way in which the Government intends to implement its commitment in the programme for Government to expand the national cycle network in order to encourage more people to cycle. [13652/03]
Traffic management grant funding for local authorities for measures such as QBCs, cycle routes and traffic management measures is administered by the Dublin Transportation Office. Some €2.028 million was spent in 2002 under traffic management grants funding on cycle facilities. Further expenditure was incurred on cycleways provided in conjunction with bus priority, for which over €15 million was provided in total. Some €40 million is being provided for traffic management grants in 2003. A high priority continues to be afforded to funding the provision by local authorities of cycle routes under this grant scheme. To date, 170 km of cycle network – QBC cycle facilities and dedicated cycle facilities – has been constructed in the greater Dublin area, together with 2,500 cycle parking spaces. The DTO is conducting a review of the regional cycle strategy and facilities and developing a four-year action plan for cycling between 2003 and 2006. I understand that a revised cycling design manual is also in preparation and should be published by the DTO in 2003.
