Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge much of what Deputy O'Callaghan said, although I have done quite a lot of it already. I was in Copenhagen recently and observed exactly what he referred to. The progress of cycling in countries like Holland and Denmark is something to which we aspire and admire, and we are a long way behind the achievements in those particular nations.

I do not believe it is particularly fair to criticise us for our lack of ambition, achievement, aspiration or declaration. I said in the initial part of my reply that I got a significant increase in Exchequer capital funding for cycling infrastructure over the period 2018 to 2021. Capital investment of more than €110 million, which is a lot of money and is a huge increase, will develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the greater Dublin area and regional cities over the next four years. That is directly targeting safety and improving the infrastructure, which is what Deputy O'Callaghan also referred to as being necessary for safer conditions for cycling. That is exactly what we are doing.

In addition to that, the introduction of the minimum passing distance was greeted with a great deal of surprise. It is quite revolutionary. It is extremely unpopular in certain areas but it has been done exclusively for the benefit of cyclists. It is something which has provoked hostility in other areas but it is a recognition of the fact that we must do this, and it will be implemented at the earliest possible time in order to protect cyclists. As the Deputy said, it will not produce a panacea. The Deputy also spoke about the need for advertising. The RSA has embarked on a campaign encouraging the minimum passing distance, MPD, which has had a huge effect on public care in terms of overtaking cyclists before it is even implemented.

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