John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount his Department has invested in cycle lanes; the total length of cycle lanes here compared with five years ago; the way in which he intends to increase the rate of cycling in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4733/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and funding of cycle lanes is a matter for the relevant local authority. Local authorities may, however, use discretionary improvement and block grants, provided by my Department, towards the cost of providing cycle lanes.

The total discretionary improvement grant allocation by my Department to county councils in 2005 is €22.661 million, which represents an increase of 3% on the 2004 allocation. The total block grant allocation by my Department to city, borough and town councils in 2005 is €14.478million, which also represents an increase of 3% on the 2004 allocation. The selection of works to be funded from these grants, including the amount to be used for the provision of cycle lanes, is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority.

The allocation of grants for national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority. The Dublin Transportation Office also allocates grants for traffic management measures to local authorities in the greater Dublin area. Details regarding the total length of cycle lanes in the country are not available in my Department.