Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Traffic plans are hopeless if one does not have an environmentally friendly way, which the Deputy addressed, of getting children to school which gets them out of cars. We have a larger role here, not just in Dublin or the Deputy's area but on a national level, to get children cycling and participating in walking, cycling and sustainable travel initiatives, which are in my Department's remit. In 2014, as the Deputy probably knows, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport engaged Cycling Ireland to develop a new national cycle training standard specifically for schools which would ensure a standardised level of cycle training around the country. The new standard, Cycle Right, which was launched in January 2017, has been rolled out since the start of 2017 to as many primary schools as funding allows. This new cycle training standard, which includes an on-road element, will result over time in an increase in the number of children choosing to cycle to and from school. It is expected that between 12,000 and 15,000 children will avail of the training in 2017. I will ask an official to contact the local authority and I will ask the school to look at the green schools programme and cycle right programme.

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