James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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498. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding his Department secured in budget 2018 to promote cycling; and when the target of 10% of commuting by bike as set out in the cycling policy framework will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48696/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I secured funding of €116m in Budget 2018 for the development of cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and Regional Areas over the next four years.

The recent budget 2018 also saw an increase of €30 million in the allocation for Greenways bringing the total allocation for the development of Greenways for the same period to €55.9 million.

The numbers cycling have increased year on year, with the recent Census showing a 43% increase in the numbers cycling to work and while we still have some way to go to reach the target of 10% commuting by bike, the focus is to continue on this trajectory. This substantial investment will allow us to further increase the numbers cycling, thereby easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our cities, and will have, I believe, a transformative effect on our cities over the next four years and beyond.  It is of course, also of paramount importance to me, that as we encourage more people to cycle, we are also providing them with safe infrastructure in which to do so.