Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2005
114 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the reported value for money audit of cycle lanes in Dublin; the person who is carrying out the audit; the level of funding awarded to provide bus lanes in each of the past five years; the number of kilometres this has provided in each case and the locations ; his plans for future funding of cycle lanes in Dublin and the rest of the country. [21206/05]
View answerMy Department proposes to undertake an expenditure review of the traffic management grants scheme, commencing in late 2005. This is part of the ongoing expenditure review initiative, including the Exchequer assistance for cycle facilities, in which all Departments participate. The purpose of these reviews is to evaluate the effectiveness of the relevant public expenditure. No decision has yet been made on who will carry out the audit, but it is likely to be undertaken by independent consultants.
Some €28.9 million has been spent on the provision of cycling facilities since 1994, resulting in the provision of 220 km of cycle networks in the greater Dublin area.
The emerging implications for cycling policy are that a more holistic approach, which involves addressing the real and perceived safety concerns of potential cyclists is called for in order to create an attractive environment for cycling. In light of this, I have asked the Dublin Transportation Office to advise on the future direction of cycling policy and this will of necessity involve consideration of the expenditure undertaken to date.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the funding of bus lanes in each of the past five years is as follows: 2000, €17.8 million; 2001, €23.4 million; 2002, €15.1 million; 2003, €18.6 million; and 2004, €28.1 million. These figures yield a total of €103 million. Information relating to the location and length of bus lanes is set out in the following table:
|
QBC Scheme |
Launch date |
Length in km |
|
Lucan QBC, N4 |
July 1996 |
12.1 |
|
Malahide QBC |
December 1998 |
7.5 |
|
Stillorgan QBC, N11 |
August 1999 |
12.9 |
|
Finglas QBC |
July 2000 |
6.0 |
|
North Clondalkin QBC |
February 2001 |
12.1 |
|
Rathfarnham QBC |
March 2001 |
7.1 |
|
Tallaght QBC |
April 2001 |
12.2 |
|
Blanchardstown |
September 2001 |
16.4 |
|
Swords, Whitehall to Dublin Airport |
November 2001 |
2.9 |
|
Swords QBC, Whitehall to city centre |
April 2001 |
11.7 |
|
Extensions |
||
|
N11 QBC Ext., Foxrock to Bray |
quarter four, 2004 |
10.7 |
|
N4 QBC Ext., St. Johns Road |
quarter one, 2004 |
2.5 |
|
N4 QBC Ext., Lucan Bypass |
2004 |
2.2 |
|
Rathfarnham QBC Ext., Ballyboden Road |
quarter three, 2004 |
1.0 |
|
Newtownpark Avenue, N11 QBC approach |
quarter one, 2005 |
0.4 |
|
Total |
117.7 |
The following table lists additional bus priority measures, which are in addition to the QBCs listed in the first table. These bus priority measures may not meet the full QBC specification, but they do prioritise buses through traffic.
|
Length |
|
|
N7, Monastery Road to Newlands Cross |
1.5 km |
|
Newtown Park Avenue |
0.5 km |
|
Outer ring road |
3.3 km |
|
N32 |
2.5 km |
|
Clontarf Road |
1.5 km |
|
Laurel Lodge |
0.5 km |
|
Total |
9.8 km |
