Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he proposes to improve safety for cyclists in Dublin city; his plans to ensure better segregation between cyclist and other road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39263/17]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the poor condition of cycling infrastructure in the Dublin 15 area in particular, including the Royal Canal Way; his plans to remedy these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39264/17]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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617. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the substandard cycling infrastructure in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39265/17]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to cycling infrastructure in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39266/17]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a free puncture repair scheme at the local cycle shops similar to the bike purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39267/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 615 to 619, inclusive, together.

I am pleased that the numbers cycling have increased year on year, with the recent Census showing a 43% increase in the numbers cycling to work and I am aware of calls for increased funding for infrastructure. I believe that the time has come for a step change in the level of investment in cycling as this will allow us to further increase the numbers cycling, thereby easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our cities.

To achieve this within the context of future capital planning, I am working to increase investment in cycling infrastructure over a number of years, targeted primarily on investment in segregated routes in the Greater Dublin Area and the Regional Cities. This could have a transformative effect on active travel in our cities over the coming years.

Over recent years my Department has directly funded active travel measures (i.e. walking and cycling) throughout Ireland as part of overall expenditure under a number of programmes, including the Smarter Travel Areas, Active Travel Towns and the National Cycle Network programmes. While this broader investment in Sustainable Transport involves projects that benefit cycling, it is sometimes difficult to attribute the specific level of spend in a project or programme that relates to the cycling infrastructure component. Information in this regard is being compiled by my Department at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the administration of the Sustainable Transport Management Grants and Regional Cities Programmes, which both involve investment benefiting cyclists, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply in relation to funding provided to cycling under those programmes. If the Deputy does not receive a full response within 10 working days please contact my private office.