Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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1125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the initiatives he is taking to promote safer cycling and to inform cyclists of the newly introduced penalty system for dangerous cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9704/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​In all areas of transport the highest priority for my Department is safety. Both my Department and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are engaged in promoting awareness of the Rules of the Road and safe practice on our roads for all road users. This includes promoting awareness of cyclists and other vulnerable road users among motorists, as well as promoting safe cycling practice among cyclists. Fixed charge notices were introduced for cyclists in July 2015. The RSA, my Department and An Garda Síochána have all publicised the introduction of these fixed charges for offences for cyclists and the RSA continue to publicise the fixed charges including through social media on an on-going basis.

The current Road Safety Strategy, running from 2013 to 2020, contains a number of measures to ensure greater safety in cycling. These include education to promote the use of personal protection equipment and high visibility clothing, the provision of which is heavily funded by the RSA, and developing a standardised road safety cycling proficiency training programme for schools.

My Department is funding the development and roll-out of "Cycle Right" the new national cycling training standard, developed by Cycling Ireland with the involvement of stakeholders including the RSA, An Garda Síochána, An Taisce (who operate the Green Schools Scheme), Coaching Ireland and Local Authorities. "Cycle Right" training aims to give trainees the confidence, skill and road safety knowledge to use their bike to get places safely. Over a series of stages, cyclists will increase their proficiency and safe journeying on the road network. A key element to this training will be the rules of the road.  "Cycle Right" will roll out nationally in primary schools from September 2016.