Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I reject Deputy Ryan's assertions, which fly in the face of the evidence. He repeats a mantra I have heard from him so often that I do not expect him to reverse on it in the face of the evidence. I expect instead that he will keep saying it in order that some people will believe him.

I am somewhat surprised by the Deputy's claim that the majority of actions under the national cycle policy framework are not being implemented. As he will appreciate, the economic and financial crisis which accompanied the publication of the framework in 2009 had an impact on the levels of public expenditure available, but that is very different from asserting that implementation is not ongoing. Similarly, the Deputy will also appreciate that the economic and financial situation today is vastly different from that of 2009 and subsequent years.

As Minister, I have secured significantly improved multi-annual funding until 2021 for active travel measures which will be used to support the ongoing implementation of the framework. This improved funding includes €110 million specifically dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas; €135 million for sustainable urban transport measures; and €750 million towards the BusConnects programme in Dublin, which will include delivery of approximately 200 km of segregated cycling lanes, where possible.

That is pretty good. I do not know what Deputy Eamon Ryan has to complain about there. It is just not enough for him.

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