Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I was heartened yesterday to see a large protest in Dublin city centre in support of the provision of funding to promote cycle safety, organised by the Dublin Cycling Campaign and cycling.ie. Over 500 cyclists took time to tell the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, that the current allocation of funding to promote activities such as walking and cycling was a meagre 1% of total transport expenditure and totally inadequate. Recent cutbacks in the transport budget of the Dublin City Council have potentially led to existing plans for infrastructural development to be scrapped.This is regressive, to say the least.

I was a keen rural and urban cyclist while living in the Netherlands for ten years. It is clichéd at this stage to want to emulate the Dutch on cycling issues but there is a good reason for this. The Netherlands has turned cycling not only into a transport solution but also into a positive attribute of the cities and regions. A country with more cyclists is more livable and attractive, with less air pollution and traffic congestion. It is more attractive for both inhabitants and tourists. A fine example of this is the recently opened Waterford greenway cycling and walking system, which was largely started up on a voluntary basis. It is open and very attractive. It has safe infrastructure and it is already attracting tourists and allowing people of the south east to see more of their beautiful countryside along Ireland's Ancient East.

A vibrant cycling sector can serve as a source of jobs in sales, rental and repairs much as the implementation of infrastructure can provide direct employment. Tourism is one of our largest industries. We must always strive to ensure Ireland is welcoming and a safe destination, particularly for heritage enthusiasts who come here to see our outstanding natural beauty.

The issue of cycling safety has been brought into stark relief recently with the death of Donna Fox on the streets of Dublin and the tragic deaths of 11-year-old Tim Ross, as he was cycling to school in Offaly, and 13-year-old Daniel Roche, as he was cycling home near Drogheda. I wish to hear from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, whom I do not believe to be much of a sport at the moment, on what he is going to do to tackle the urgent issue of funding and restore faith in cycle safety on our roads. I would like to hear his vision for cycling and walking in the lifetime of this Government.