Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.

Since 2010 my Department has provided funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to active travel infrastructure provided by Cork City Council. Noting the NTA's responsibility in this regard, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply in relation to funding for cycling infrastructure provided to Cork City between 2010 to date. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days.

This funding represents the vast majority of total funding provided by my Department to Cork City Council over the period; however, there were occasional, smaller, grants made directly by the Department, the data for which is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in line with revised Standing Orders.

As the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government – Our Shared Future sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging set of commitments in relation to walking and cycling, supported by an increased multi-annual budgetary allocation amounting to some €1.8 billion over the lifetime of the Government. This significantly increased funding will benefit cycling infrastructure across the country, including in the Cork City Council area.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am broadly aware of the campaign referred to by the Deputy and am obviously aware that in recent weeks we have seen similar such campaigns and/or proposals put forward by many different people looking to re-orientate our streets toward pedestrians and cyclists. I very much support the prioritization of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport on our streets.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) is working with local authorities across the country to support them in their response to mobility challenges caused by the Covid-19 Emergency. The NTA wrote to all 31 local authorities, including Cork City Council and indeed Cork County Council,  to offer its financial and technical support and this support is being funded through my Department's sustainable mobility investment programme. The approach taken was to engage with all local authorities to see what their requirements were and to grant aid in full various temporary intervention proposals, subject to those proposals being agreed with the NTA in advance of implementation. I know, and welcome, that both Cork City Council and Cork County Council have already availed of this support to introduce a number of measures in the city centre.

In addition under the July Stimulus an additional €82million has been announced to support pedestrians and cyclists in urban and rural Ireland in the coming months. The Stimulus programme will further support local authorities across the country as they respond to the needs of local communities and businesses in the months ahead. Funding under the Stimulus programme must be expended by year end.

This week I met with both the City and County Council to discuss their mobility challenges and the supports available as referred to above. I was very much encouraged by the plans both Councils have with regard to improving active travel infrastructure and note that on Wednesday the City Council published details of further proposed improvements to that infrastructure in the city centre in the coming weeks and months.