Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2018
55. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the data sent to him on injuries sustained by cyclists due to traffic accidents has been examined; and his plans to improve the safety of cycling particularly in urban Ireland. [7512/18]
View answerMy Department is currently examining the data on cyclist injuries and will revert with observations.
My Department fully supports the provision of safe and direct cycling infrastructure, in line with Smarter Travel and the National Cycle Policy Framework. Whilst significant investment has been undertaken in recent years in cycling infrastructure, I firmly believe that further continued investment is required to ensure cycling is seen as a safe and attractive option for cyclists of all ages.
I was delighted to have secured, as part of Budget 2018, a significant increase in the level of Exchequer capital funding available for investment in cycling infrastructure over the period 2018-2021. Capital investment of over €110m will develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and Regional Cities over the next four years.
My Department is also currently preparing a National Greenways Strategy. Budget 2018 saw an increase of €30 million in the multi-annual allocation for Greenways bringing the total allocation for the development of Greenways for the period 2018-2021 to over €55 million.
In addition to these cycling-specific investments, other infrastructure investments will also significantly benefit cyclists. The considerable investment of about three-quarters of a billion euro for re-configuring the bus network as part of BusConnects will entail construction of new cycling facilities alongside bus routes on key routes including the provision of safe cycling facilities. In addition, some of the €135m funding that will be provided to local authorities in the GDA and the Regional Cities for Sustainable Urban Transport between 2018 and 2021 will support better traffic management, bus priority measures and pedestrian infrastructure - which will benefit the safe and effective movement of all.
My Department continues to be fund behavioural change measures to encourage more people to take up cycling and to ensure cyclist safety. Funding is provided to the NTA for programmes such as Workplace and Campus travel programmes and the Green Schools Programmes, Cycling Ireland for the "Cycle Right" school training programme, and to the RSA for road safety promotion including campaigns specifically targeting cyclist safety.
This coordinated investment strategy will, I believe, have a lasting transformative effect on the levels of cycling, and our transport network over the coming years.
