John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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406. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to implement the national cycle policy framework; the steps and timeframe to its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9140/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) which was published in 2009 included a range of objectives and actions to be achieved and implemented over the period to 2020. The targets contained in the NCPF were ambitious and were predicated on substantial investment under the Transport 21 investment plan at the time, which given the economic crisis which ensued could not be delivered on.

Implementation of the various actions falls to a wide range of public bodies including local authorities, transport agencies, my Department and other Government Departments. The National Cycling Policy Framework has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so as to ensure that the objectives and policies to support and promote cycling are taken account of in current and future planning.

In 2013 and 2015 the Department asked local authorities and other stakeholders for an update on progress on implementation of the NCPF. The Department now intends to undertake a full review of the framework and we will be pursuing this over the coming year.

Despite the reduced level of funding available since the publication of the framework, compared to that envisaged under the Transport 21 investment plan, good progress has been made to date. To mention a few, the Dublin and Regional Public Bikes Scheme have been successfully delivered and are operating successfully. Also, the roll out of the new National Cycle Training Standard for Ireland "Cycle Right" which was developed by Cycling Ireland with funding from my Department commenced in January of this year. The Deputy will also be aware of the very heartening figures published recently in the 'Canal Cordon Report 2016' which shows significant increases in the numbers cycling and walking into Dublin City Centre in the morning peak.