Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a cost assessment has been conducted in connection with the establishment of a national cycling office; and if so, the estimated cost of same. [27378/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. With the increased multi-annual capital funding that I secured as part of Budget 2018, there is over €110 million specifically allocated to developing "active travel" (i.e. cycling and walking) at a national level over the period 2018-2021. This programme will provide safe alternative active travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure. This investment is in addition to the substantial improvement in cycling infrastructure that will be carried out as part of both the roll-out of BusConnects national programme and the investment that is allocated for sustainable urban transport initiatives.

I am not, however, involved in the day-to-day delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure projects. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities. My Department provides funding to the NTA who distribute this to the various local authorities nationally in relation to cycle scheme proposals that they put forward. In this regard, and in conjunction with the NTA, Local Authorities have a key role to play in advancing cycling schemes; both the elected members and executive through the planning and construction phases.

My Department also funds the development and roll-out of Cycle Right the 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 safely. Over a series of stages, cyclists will increase their proficiency and safe journeying on the road network. A key element to this training are the rules of the road. Cycle Right roll-out in our schools and communities is a key component of the resources made available by me in training participants to cycle safely and to move towards more active, healthy lifestyles. This Cycle Right programme, that currently costs €430,000 per annum, is accessible to primary schools across the country with a current uptake of over 15,000 pupils annually with an ambition to build on these numbers.

In the context of the work underway reviewing Public Transport Policy as committed to in the Programme for Government, my Department is turning its attention to considering the effectiveness of institutional arrangements in this area into the future, including the provision of a National Cycling Office, and having regard to the importance of ensuring strong outcomes with the budgetary increases that have been secured for the provision of enhanced cycling infrastructure and through training programmes.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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473. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the proposed BusConnects budget allocated to cycling, including the creation of new cycle paths, upgrading existing cycle paths and other cycling related projects under the BusConnects plan; and the cost of same. [27379/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, the BusConnects Programme, in addition to transforming the bus system in Dublin including a full redesign of the bus network, will also provide much needed cycling facilities and make it easier and more attractive to cycle around the city region. Given the increasing number of cyclists across Dublin there is an imperative to provide safe and segregated cycling facilities where possible.

Last week, the NTA published a discussion document outlining the Core Bus Corridor Project that is part of a wider BusConnects programme for Ireland’s cities, starting in Dublin and rolling out to Galway, Cork and Ireland’s remaining cities.

The NTA’s document provides an update on the 230 km of continuous bus priority across 16 core bus routes, expected to achieve up to 40%-50% savings on current journey times, that are emerging as the likely core bus corridors in and out of Dublin city under this new investment Programme. These main bus corridors are also the main cycling arteries. The widening of roads for these bus lanes provides the opportunity to transform the cycling infrastructure at this time.

Despite the fact that the project is at an early stage of planning, with the details to emerge later in the year and progressive elaboration of the overall budget, at this point NTA calculates that over 200km plus of cycle tracks/lanes and will be built or improved on as one of a number of a key components to BusConnects.

Following, last week’s launch by the NTA of a discussion document focussed on 16 core bus routes, the NTA will conduct a public consultation on the redesign of Dublin's bus network, including proposals on a major redesign of routes, schedules and fare structures. This is expected in July.

Later this year, the NTA then plans to hold a public consultation on the emerging proposals for the 16 core bus corridors, expected in September/October.

This is to ensure that the public are fully informed by NTA about the BusConnects programme as it progresses and have ample opportunity to input at various stages to its development. It should be stressed that all of the routes and options are indicative only at this stage. The detailed designs when completed will feed into the consultation process expected in September/October.

Noting its responsibility with regards to this matter, I have referred your queries to the NTA for consideration and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.