Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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20. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that less than 1% of the capital spend in transport is devoted to pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32787/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​In light of the many competing priorities within Government and current financial constraints I was pleased that my Department secured additional funding in Budget 2017.  I am particularly pleased that funding for the land transport programme will increase next year by €90m to €1.46 billion. With this funding my Department will continue to support Smarter Travel Policy measures in 2017 with a particular focus on cycling and walking infrastructure.  This will be achieved in tandem with engagement in soft measures such as mobility management initiatives to support sustainable transport and travel.

It is not accurate to say that only 1% of my Department's capital budget is devoted to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and facilities.  While €100m of my Department's €10bn capital allocation over the seven year period of the Capital Plan is earmarked for Smarter Travel, this does not reflect the totality of funding for cycling and walking measures.

Significant funds are awarded to the National Transport Authority (NTA) on an annual basis for the delivery of cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) in co-operation with the relevant local authorities.  Under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme, my Department provides funding to the NTA for the seven local authorities in the GDA for the implementation of sustainable transport measures which include cycling and walking infrastructure as well as QBCs, safety, integration and traffic management projects throughout the region. Funding of €23.2m has been allocated to this Programme in 2016 alone.

The NTA also manages a similar sustainable transport grants programme - the Regional Cities Programme - in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. ​Overall funding for these two programmes in 2016 is €36.7m.​

​Furthermore, my Department is developing a new strategy to set out a cohesive and forward-looking approach to the development, funding and promotion of greenways and I will be seeking to increase the funding allocation for Greenways and other sustainable transport measures in the mid-term review of the Capital Plan.