Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
535. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding available in 2019 for the improvement and provision of new cycling lanes by county in the context of allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2353/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra536. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated under the sustainable transport measures grants programme for 2018, in tabular form; the forecasted allocations for 2019; the way in which funding was allocated to projects and or beneficiaries of funding under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2355/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling infrastructure.
Funding for cycling is provided under a number of different programmes, of which the two principal ones are the Smarter Travel/Sustainable Urban Transport programme and the Cycling & Walking programme.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have secured a significant improvement in funding allocations over the period 2018-2021 which will benefit both cyclists and walkers. These improved allocations over this period include:
- €110 million specifically dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas;
- €135 million for sustainable urban transport measures;
- €750 million approximately towards the BusConnects programme in Dublin which will include the delivery of around 200 kilometres of segregated cycling lanes, where possible; and
- €53 million to support the development of new Greenways.
In addition to the above, Government has also made additional money available for cycling projects through both the Urban and Rural Regeneration and Development Funds under the National Development Plan.
End year figures for 2018 are currently being finalised; in the meantime, the provisional expenditure outturn for the Smarter Travel/Sustainable Urban Transport programme and the Cycling & Walking programme is €37.4m while funding under these two programmes will increase again in 2019 with approximately €48 million allocated toward the programmes.
To clarify the figures referred to above relate only to my Department's Cycling & Walking programme and its Smarter Travel/Sustainable Urban Transport programme and exclude expenditure under other programmes such as BusConnects or the Greenways Strategy.
As previously stated, as Minister I have responsibility for overall funding; however, the NTA allocates the funding at a project level and I have therefore referred the Deputy's questions to the Authority for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
