Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for joining us today. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the national cycling framework, the appointment of a national cycling officer and, specifically, the commitment in the national cycling framework of having 10% of all journeys in urban and rural areas made on a bicycle and the journey we need to make from the 2% at the moment. I also ask the Minister to address the spending target for cycling infrastructure for the National Transport Authority and whether he will seek to achieve a 10% of spend within the National Transport Authority, which is quite short of what the UN recommends which is 20% of national transport budgets to be spent on cycling.

There are multiple reasons I am asking for this specific focus on cycling. We know it is an efficient, a cheap, a healthy and an environmentally-friendly mode of transport, something which effectively tackles congestion and contributes to health, participation in public life and our climate ambitions, and I would like if the Minister could address that.

We saw in the newspapers today figures which show the public enthusiasm for cycling. Over the last decade, 12,000 cyclists are now crossing the canals, which is an increase of 7,000. That is very much matched by a decrease of motorists making those journeys. This can only be good for our city centre but while there is public enthusiasm, we have not seen the same level of enthusiastic engagement at departmental level and we still have a concern that cycling seems to be treated as a peripheral part of our transport strategy rather than a very central plank. We now see that a majority choose sustainable options in terms of entering Dublin city centre. In other cities around the country, such as in Galway, people have said that if those options were being presented in terms of sustainable transport, many congestion problems could be solved and we could see that same balance of transport.

The Government recently issued a statement of strategy which made one reference to more commutes by way of walking and cycling but it did not really make the links - I would like if the Minister could elaborate on this - on how it would also fulfil the other goal of a low carbon transport sector by 2050. What are the measures that will be put in place in terms of those more commutes by way of walking and cycling?

We also have a smarter travel commitment since 2009 to reduce journeys taken by car from 65% to 45% and increase to 55% sustainable transport by way of walking, cycling and public transport. I would like to hear how the Minister plans to implement them. Specifically, in the national cycling framework, there was a commitment and a recommendation in terms of a national cycling officer and the achievement of that target of 10% of journeys.

I recognise the Minister has taken one positive initiative in terms of cycle education in schools but research from the CSO shows that only 8% of boys are cycling to school and only 1% of girls. There is a key issue around safety and inclusion in terms of cycling strategy and education alone cannot be the answer. We need to look to meaningful and appropriate infrastructure. In countries where the infrastructure is place, the evidence shows more inclusive participation, a greater gender balance in cycling and older and younger people participating. I would like the Minister to indicate how he plans to address and put in place infrastructural spend to support cycling.

In pushing forward this cycling strategy, how is the Minister engaging with other Departments, for example, the Department of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, which is leading in the area of climate change and is looking to how sustainable transport is going to play a key role? Some 25% of global emission of carbon dioxide comes from motorised vehicles. Clearly, transport has to be at the centre of our climate change and sustainability strategy and our health strategy. Information from the UK, for example, shows that the NHS has indicated that £1.7 billion could be saved by an increase in cycling. I would be very grateful if the Minister could address those issues.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to address this question which was not addressed completely last week. I apologise for that but it is difficult to address all the questions in the Chamber. If I do not address all the questions or have precise answers today, the Senator is welcome to send them on to me and I will address them.

I am sympathetic with what the Senator said, particularly when only 8% of young boys and only 1% of young girls cycle to school. That is a stark figure and not satisfactory. The cycling community is vocal about what it feels and is powerful. It is a strong lobby group which has made a good case for greater attention in the future. Many of the initiatives which have gone wrong or have not met their targets are, for some reasons, beyond their control. Some of the targets were certainly overambitious and could not be fulfilled because the principal programme was initiated in 2009. Everybody knows what happened between 2009 and now. The finances of the State meant cycling was not the only project in which targets were missed. Most of these programmes were cut vehemently.

I said before that the 10% target was an ambitious one. In retrospect, it was probably overambitious and one which we were unable to meet. However, it must be recognised this target, as well as others, contained in the national cycle policy framework and smarter travel were predicated on substantial investment under the Transport 21 investment plan at the time which, given the economic crisis which ensued, could not be delivered on. That said, it is obvious we will not achieve that ambitious target. However, that does not mean progress has not been made. The Senator rightly referred to some of the progress made. It may be, as she says, due more to the spontaneity of those enthusiastic about cycling than Government policy. However, that is a matter for debate. Success has been achieved and there has been a big modal shift which is fair to acknowledge. It might not have happened to the extent we wanted, but it has happened. We are continuing to strive towards achieving further growth in the numbers cycling.

In that regard, the canal cordon count report published by the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council last week showed the number of people using sustainable modes of transport, namely, public transport, cycling and walking, into Dublin city centre increased further in 2016 and now accounts for over two thirds of all journeys. The number of journeys by sustainable modes of transport in 2010 was 59%. This has increased every year since then to 67% in 2016. This is obviously an indication that the gap between people using sustainable and non-sustainable modes of transport continues to grow. It might not be fast enough, but it is happening.

Of the journeys made into Dublin city centre, cycling continued its steady trend of increasing usage. That represents a modal share of 6%. While overall cycle numbers are up 150% on 2006, the cycle mode share has more than doubled in the same period and has increased year on year since 2010.

It must also be borne in mind that these heartening statistics do not include the numbers using the Dublinbikes scheme within the canals. It is likely that a further few thousand cycling trips took place during the 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. peak period of the count if users of the Dublinbikes scheme were factored into the equation. The numbers now cycling into Dublin city in the morning peak are on a par with those using the Luas. We see continued growth year on year in the numbers cycling in Dublin.

Cycling will continue to play an important part in addressing congestion in Dublin city centre and in other urban centres. We need to persuade the 33% who continue to use private motor vehicles, usually occupied by only one person during peak commuting times, to switch to a more sustainable and an efficient mode of transport, be that public transport, cycling or walking. We have no more space for private motor vehicles in Dublin city centre and we need to use the limited space we have in the most efficient way possible.

However, while the numbers cycling in Dublin show significant increases, we are not seeing similar increases in the regional cities of Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Unfortunately, we do not have similar counts set up for those cities at present. However, my Department, along with the NTA, is investing in cycling and walking infrastructure in these cities.However, my Department, along with the NTA, is investing in cycling and walking infrastructure in these cities. Last week, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, officiated at the opening of the Limerick smarter travel area flagship route from the city centre to Corbally and the University of Limerick. I am sure this route will see excellent usage in the years ahead.

The significant investment of €21.7 million made in Limerick, Dungarvan and Westport by my Department under the smarter travel area scheme will be assessed this year to see the effect it has had on the numbers choosing to travel by sustainable transport modes, and will inform our future funding decisions. We will take action as a result of those findings.

We need to see what has worked and what has not before we make further funding decisions. We also invested significant amounts under the active travel town banner in a further 11 towns. I do not believe that setting a target of expenditure for the NTA for cycling infrastructure would be helpful at present. It is important to remember that for the first time, the greater Dublin area cycle network plan is included in the NTA’s greater Dublin area transport strategy.

In addition, a draft network plan is currently being developed for Cork. These network plans will now guide the funding requirements for those areas and ensure that there is a steady stream of projects in planning, design and construction. While there is currently no national cycling officer in place, a number of local authorities have appointed cycling officers for their regions, which is a welcome step and a recognition of the importance of cycling as a reliable and viable mode of transport. My Department will be undertaking a review of the national cycle network policy this year and will consider the appointment of a national cycling officer in that context.

I acknowledge that we are below expectations in what we had aspired to do in the cycling area. This is mostly due to financial constraints. As a result of the mid-term capital plan this year, we intend to put cycling and cycling projects as top priorities. Some of the money which might have been used for certain projects sometimes gets diverted. This year, for example, the Luas cross-city project has taken up an enormous amount of funds, but it would be wrong to delay that for any particular reason. Competing areas have created a problem for cycling and meant that we have not met our targets. We intend to improve that in future, however, and particularly in terms of the mid-term capital plan.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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We normally have eight minutes for each Commencement matter but we have already used 12 minutes for this one, so if the Senator is asking a supplementary question it will have to be brief. The other matters will have to be cut because 12 minutes is extraordinarily long.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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The Minister mentioned many of the local projects, but it is unfortunate to see that the smarter travel scheme and sustainable transport grants have been cut. We have seen less resources for that in 2015 to 2016 and now into 2017. How do we marry this regional focus with the fact that we are cutting funding in that area?

Since 2009, climate change has continued apace. All the evidence points to the fact that cycling is not simply a matter of expenditure and cost, but is also a net saving. It is one of the most inexpensive and efficient modes of transport, so I would ask the Minister to address that.

As regards road safety, the Minister talked about persuasion. It is hard to persuade people, however, when they see accidents such as the one in Kildare last week. Six hundred members of a club are surely influenced when a lack of infrastructure leads to yet another tragic death of a cyclist.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I call the Minister for a brief reply. He has already given a comprehensive answer.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I fully accept virtually everything the Senator has said. In the mid-term capital review, I will certainly consider cycling projects as a priority. If the Senator wishes to send me any more detailed questions in writing I will get them answered because I know she cannot come in every week.