Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and I agree that cyclists are particularly vulnerable road users. However, what I have not heard from the Minister is a commitment that he and the Government will take steps to improve road safety for cyclists.

The Minister mentioned some figures in his answer. Unfortunately, he cannot get away from the fact that infrastructure spend in 2017, which was his first full year as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, was only €7 million. It also appears to be the case that in 2018, that spend will be only €8 million. That is not sufficient. The Minister and the Government need to give a commitment that they recognise the importance of cycling and that they recognise that it is a form of transport that needs to be encouraged among young people and older people. However, that cannot happen unless people believe their cycle ways and the manner by which they can cycle will be safe. Currently in this city, in other cities and in rural areas it is not safe. The only way it will be made sufficiently safe for more people to use them is if there is delegated and allocated space on the road for cyclists. We do not have that at present and we need to ensure that occurs. It will lead to a huge increase in the number of people who are using cycling if they believe they and their children will be safe when they are out cycling on the roads.

I welcome the fact that the Minister has indicated that he will shortly bring in a statutory instrument giving effect to the minimum passing distance legislation. That is a proposal my colleague, Deputy Robert Troy, has been very much to the fore in putting forward. However, that will be of very limited effect unless it is combined with a commitment by Government to ensure there will be cycle paths throughout our cities and rural areas. The Minister should visit cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam. He will see how those progressive cities have devoted huge amounts of resources to facilitating and encouraging cycling. It would be to the benefit of society as a whole but, regrettably, when we have a Government that will not commit investment in the infrastructure we will find ourselves in a situation where people will not feel confident about cycling around the city.

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