Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport the role he has played in developing a national cycle way network as laid out in the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006; the amount spent on the project to date; and his plans for the future development of the network. [35854/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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This Government has committed itself to promoting cycling as a viable alternative mode of transport, as is made clear in the Programme for Government, which states: "We will invest in expanding the national network of cycleways in order to encourage more people to cycle and to promote cycling as a safe and healthy mode of travel" — Programme for Government, Page 14, June 2002. It is Government policy to make provision for the bicycle as a separate mode in the design and maintenance of roads.

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 local authorities for such facilities.

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

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/chapter1.pdf.

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 Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The DTO Steering Committee adopted a Cycle Policy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) at its September 2006 meeting. The policy proposes to enhance the cycling environment in the GDA and promote cycling by a variety of means, including creating a continuous cycle-friendly environment on cycle routes and training and education measures.

Outside of Dublin, the framework for the promotion of cycling in the regional cities is set out in the relevant 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.

My Department is working with these authorities in the development of their plans and providing funding for their implementation.