Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 April 2017
647. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the lack of safe cycling infrastructure in place in view of the high percentage of road deaths among cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce the number of cyclists killed in road deaths, including plans for investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.
During the lifetime of the previous Road Safety Strategy, 2007-2012, fatalities among cyclists declined by 66%. While it is always difficult to keep up the downward momentum in fatalities, the current Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2013-2020 contains a number of measures to make cyclists safer. Key to this are educational and public information measures aimed at both motorists, for example, RSA advertising campaigns, and at cyclists, for example, the 'Cycle Right' Initiative.
I look upon every cyclist fatality as an avoidable tragedy. I intend to tackle the issue of cyclist-related deaths through targeting cyclist and motorist attitudes and behaviour, through education programmes, through the provision of cycle tracks, and the rollout of the Cycle Right campaign, which was launched in January 2017 and which will be rolled out to primary schools nationwide during the year.
Cyclists are inherently vulnerable road users and as such I believe that cyclists are safest on segregated cycle tracks. Provision is being made for the funding of cycle tracks each year, with funding of €23.2 million allocated to the Greater Dublin Area for sustainable transport measures including cycling infrastructure in 2016, with total funding for this and for a similar scheme in the Regional Cities in 2016 amounting to €36.7 million. In 2017 my Department will be investing more than €37 million in Smarter Travel and Sustainable Transport measures including cycling infrastructure.
