Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Transport the issues of concern that have been brought to his Department's attention in relation to safety with regard to his Department's policy on the design and use of cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35887/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Cycling is an important part of this Government's commitment under Transport 21 to increasing modal share of public transport through infrastructure and service improvements and to encourage a transfer of trips from the private car to more sustainable modes of transport.

While the provision of cycle ways and cycle parking is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authorities, my Department provides funding to the local authorities for the development of such facilities.

Approximately €30 million has been provided by my Department to the Dublin Transportation Office for the provision of cycling facilities in the Greater Dublin Area since 1994. €1 million was provided in 2005 and €2.2 million in 2006. The investment of bus priority funding and cycling-only spending has resulted in some 300kms of cycle facilities being provided, as well as cycle parking facilities throughout the GDA.

Safety is a key issue in cycling. Dublin continues to have more than half of all daily cyclists in Ireland — the accident rate in Dublin is substantially less than for the rest of the country. Nevertheless, continued efforts need to be made to improve safety and take the opportunity further to improve the standard of new cycle facilities.

The DTO cycletrack design manual (Provision of Cycling Facilities: National Manual for Urban Areas), published in 1997, provides guidance on the design of cycle facilities in Ireland. It is available on the DTO website at www.dto.ie/web2006/publicdown.htm.

The current cycle design guidelines are very demanding, especially in terms of the requirements for cyclists, and providing an appropriate environment for cycling. In particular, the current guidelines demand that cyclists be protected from general traffic in situations of high vehicular speeds, high vehicular volumes or both. This requires a significant permanent dedication of space to cyclists, in a situation where demand for space is at a premium. This manual is in the process of being updated, with a view to enhancing safety. It is expected to be published towards the end of this year.

The manual is supplemented by the DTO Traffic Management Guidelines, published in September 2003 in conjunction with the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Dublin Transportation Office recently adopted a Cycle Policy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The policy proposes to enhance the cycling environment in the GDA and promote safe cycling by a variety of means, including creating a continuous cycle-friendly environment on cycle routes and training and education measures.

Outside Dublin, the framework for the promotion of cycling in the regional cities is set out in the relevant local land use and transportation strategy or in the relevant Development Plan or Local Area Plan. The Cork Area Strategic Plan contains proposals to improve facilities for cyclists and promote safe cycling in the city, and Cork City Council has since also developed a cycle network strategy.

In Galway, the City Development Plan includes proposals for improving facilities for cyclists. Limerick City Council approved a cycle strategy for Limerick in May 2004, while the Waterford City Development Plan includes proposals for improving facilities for cyclists.