Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
683 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the creation of park and cycle parks at the edge of major cities here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21430/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, responsibility for the delivery of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of cycling facilities in the Greater Dublin Area, is a matter for the NTA. Under its Sustainable Transport Management Grants Scheme, the NTA provides funding to local authorities for a range of schemes to benefit cyclists including cycle paths and cycle corridors. Parking facilities for bicycles is also being provided at a number of rail and Luas stations. Funding is also being provided by my Department through the NTA to relevant local authorities in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford for a programme of public transport and sustainable measures and projects. These measures include the provision of a variety of cycling initiatives to include cycle corridors and cycle parking.
The proposal to facilitate car parking at rail stations for onward travel by bicycle raises some issues. Many of the car parks at rail stations are already heavily utilised by people parking their cars and taking the rail service to their destination. Releasing some of that limited car parking space and dedicating it to onward cycle based travel would potentially reduce public transport use, in that some people would be unable to obtain the car parking necessary for them to use the rail service. Equally the distance to be travelled by bicycle would be a negating factor in a lot of locations. However, the Department and the NTA will continue to develop and deliver the various measures that support increased cycle use including availing of opportunities to increase cycling potential associated with the rail network. There is a private carpark at Navan Road Parkway Station which is well served by bus from Dublin 15 and East Meath.
