Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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418. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consideration he has given to the pre-budget submission by a group (details supplied) in relation to allocating 10% of the transport budget to cycling in order to radically transform the present situation and positively assist in reaching climate change emission targets and to tackle obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38515/18]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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421. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the request by a group (details supplied) that 10% of the budget for transportation be allocated for cycling and cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38544/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 421 together.

I would like to advise the Deputy that I am acutely aware of the importance of investing in a safe cycling infrastructure not just to ensure the safety of cyclists, but also to help alleviate congestion, lower emissions and improve the overall health of those who chose to cycle.

Improvements to our cycling infrastructure will be made possible by the increased funding I have secured over the period 2018 to 2021 such as:

- €110 million to be allocated through the National Transport Authority, NTA, and local authorities to develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford;

- €135 million secured for the Sustainable Urban Transport projects to be developed by the NTA in conjunction with relevant local authorities which will provide both direct and indirect improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford;

- €750 million which will be provided to support the roll-out of BusConnects by the NTA, initially in Dublin, which will provide over 200 km of, where possible, segregated cycle lanes in the city

- €53 million allocated to support greenways projects across the country in line with the new greenways strategy.

In addition to this capital investment, my Department also provides funding to the NTA for the delivery of behavioural change programmes in workplaces and campuses designed to encourage more people to take up cycling, while my Department has also worked with Cycling Ireland on the development of a new a new national cycle training standard - "Cycle Right" – which was rolled out in January 2017 to approximately 15,000 primary school students, the RSA in relation to the promotion of safe roads for all users and local authorities for initiatives such as the annual Bike Week and European Mobility Week.

I believe these measures, and the funding I have secured to underpin them, will positively assist with the better development and provision of cycling and walking infrastructure across the State.