Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount spent on creating cycling lanes since 1997; the number of kilometres converted to cycle lanes since 1997; the number of cyclists in the Dublin region who cycle to work or school; if he will consider a re-evaluation of the cycle lane building programme; his views on the fact that the programme represents value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21705/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Some €28.9 million has been spent on provision of cycling facilities in the GDA since 1994. The programme has delivered 220 km of cycle lanes for the investment.

The most recent data available to the DTO on cycling levels in the Dublin area have been obtained from the 2002 census. As the table below shows, the number of cyclists who cycle to work and school in the GDA declined between 1996 and 2002. The decline is particularly pronounced for journeys to school. There has been a decline in numbers cycling to work and to school in every GDA local authority area.

The DTO has informed me that there are several factors that are likely to account for the observed decline in cycling to work and school. These include: an increase in rates of car ownership, which has been very significant over the period nationally and in the greater Dublin area; growth in road traffic, creating a perception among potential cyclists of a more dangerous cycling environment; a relatively hostile cycling environment in many new residential and employment areas; longer average trip lengths to work as a result of the spread of development; and more safety-conscious culture, particularly among parents and teachers.

However, it is worth noting that falling trends in the GDA are not as pronounced as for other Irish cities. Cycle numbers to work and to school fell in every major city in the State between 1996 and 2002, but the GDA's reduction in the six years, and especially County Dublin's reduction, is lower than others. One possible explanation for this is that the investment in infrastructure has slowed the erosion of cycling mode share that would otherwise have occurred due to the above factors.

As regards value for money, I pointed out in my reply to a parliamentary question, reference 21206/05, on 22 June 2005 that my Department proposes to undertake an expenditure review of the traffic management grants scheme, including the Exchequer assistance for cycle facilities, commencing in late 2005. This is part of the ongoing expenditure review initiative, in which all Departments participate. The purpose of these reviews is to evaluate the effectiveness of the relevant public expenditure.