Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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400. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of funding through the National Transport Authority an education programme available to primary schools to ensure that children are trained in safe cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53729/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware Cycle Right, the national cycling training standard, was set up and launched by my Department, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Cycling Ireland and other interested parties in 2017. The programme provides a national standard of cycle safety and skills training so that trainees develop the competence and confidence to cycle safely on the road network.

Since its first year, when over 15,000 primary school students in 428 schools across 22 counties received cycle training, the numbers receiving training has increased steadily, by approximately 5,000 per annum, with a target for 2020 of 30,000.

The funding allocated by my Department for the programme in 2019 is in the region of €725,000.