Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Two weeks ago, on 18 April, a 19 year old man, Mr. Harry Boland, was knocked down and killed while cycling on the Stillorgan dual carriageway. His death was a terrible tragedy for his family. I offer my condolences to his parents, brother, extended family and all of his friends. I bring forward this Topical Issue and mention the death of Mr. Harry Boland because, unfortunately, his tragic death meant that he was the sixth cyclist to be killed on the roads this year. It is regrettable that the number of deaths of cyclists on the roads has increased in the past two years. In 2017, 15 cyclists were killed on the roads, an increase on the ten killed in 2016. So far this year six cyclists have lost their lives.

I raise this Topical Issue to ask the Government and, in particular, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, who I am pleased to see in the Chamber to devote more attention to improving the safety of cyclists on the roads and more resources to ensuring there is sufficient infrastructure in place to protect them. If we are serious about protecting cyclists, we must increase the level of Government investment in cycling infrastructure. I cycle around the city and it is a very efficient and environmentally friendly way of travelling around it, but, regrettably, I cannot say it is very safe. The biggest threat to cyclists is posed by the proximity of very large vehicles. To diminish that threat, we must segregate and protect cyclists from large vehicles. Unfortunately, the level of investment by the Government in cycling infrastructure shows that it is not devoted to improving the safety of cyclists. The Minister may or may not be aware that approximately 95,000 people cycle in Dublin each day. I am sure there are very large numbers of cyclists throughout the rest of the country. We know from an answer given by the Minister to my colleague, Deputy Robert Troy, that the level of investment in cycling infrastructure has decreased significantly in recent years. The Government spent €16.3 million on cycling infrastructure in 2011 and €18.8 million in 2015.

Regrettably, in 2017, the Minister's first full year in charge of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, only €7 million was spent on improving cycling infrastructure. I also know from my colleague, Deputy Troy, that the Minister has announced that this year only €8 million will be devoted to cycling infrastructure. It is a derisory amount. It marks a significant decrease in the amount of money Government is spending on cycling infrastructure.

If the Government is serious about trying to promote cycling and ensure that cycling is encouraged among our population, it must play its part in trying to make cycling safer. There always will be dangers and threats on the road but it is imperative that the Government tries to ensure that cycling is made safer for citizens who use it. The Minister and his Department should be aiming for 10% of his budget to be spent on cycling and walking facilities. In fact, the United Nations recommends that it should be in the region of 20%.

I would like to hear a commitment from the Minister that steps will be made to spend greater resources of the State on making cycling safer.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would first like to join Deputy Jim O'Callaghan in expressing my sympathy to the family of Harry Boland, who as he says was the sixth cyclist killed on the roads this year. I thank him for raising this issue, which is a very serious one to which we are paying a great deal of attention, and we acknowledge the need for improvements in this area.

My highest priority in all areas of transport is safety. Tragically, many lives are lost on our roads each year, with 55 people killed to date in road traffic incidents in 2018. That figure includes the six cyclists to whom Deputy O'Callaghan referred.

We have made a great deal of progress in recent years, and 2017 saw the lowest number of road deaths ever in Ireland at 159. However, no one is complacent about this issue. My Department and I, working in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, RSA, the Minister for Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána and the local authorities, are continuing to implement measures under the road safety strategy to ensure the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads will continue to fall.

Cyclists are particularly vulnerable road users, and we are addressing the issue of cyclist safety through a variety of initiatives. The current road safety strategy, which runs from 2013 to 2020, contains measures to promote the use of personal protection equipment and high visibility clothing and developing a standardised road safety cycling proficiency training programme for schools, the Cycle Right programme. Cycle Right was launched in January 2017 and rolled out during the year to as many primary schools as funding allows. Cycling Ireland administers and manages the Cycle Right scheme and maintains a web based public register of qualified and approved Cycle Right trainers. This new cycle training initiative, 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 safely.

The RSA continues to work with cycling groups to promote cycle safety and to produce advertising campaigns aimed at the public, with a particular focus on the need for drivers to take extra care when sharing the road with cyclists. We are also improving our cycling infrastructure. There has been significant investment in this area in recent years, and that is continuing.

As part of budget 2018, I secured a significant increase in Exchequer capital funding for cycling infrastructure over the period 2018-2021. Capital investment of more than €110 million will develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the greater Dublin area and regional cities over the next four years. Budget 2018 also saw an increase of €30 million in the multi-annual allocation for Greenways, bringing the total for 2018 to 2021 to more than €55 million. In addition, more than €0.75 billion is being invested in reconfiguring the bus network as part of BusConnects, and this will entail construction of new cycling facilities alongside bus routes.

Finally, I announced earlier this year that I will bring in new regulations prescribing a minimum passing distance for vehicles overtaking cyclists. As all overtaking offences under road traffic law reside in secondary legislation, my officials have already submitted draft regulations to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for consideration and settling. I understand it has been sent for legal advice. These provisions will assist in improving cycling safety and in changing driver attitudes to cyclists.

Taken together, I believe these measures will provide increased safe infrastructure for cyclists and contribute to a change in behaviour which will enhance cycle safety.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.