Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make cycling and walking safer on existing rural roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32411/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government has committed to Exchequer spending of approximately €360 million per annum on walking and cycling over the lifetime of the Government, equivalent to 20% of the 2020 transport capital budget. This investment will help support the planned delivery of almost 1,000 kilometres of improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025 as well as additional investment in Greenways.

The year 2021 has therefore seen a significant increase in my Department's funding for cycling and walking, in line with the Government’s prioritisation of Active Travel and Greenways. As well as an increased allocation of €240 million administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA) to Active Travel projects in Dublin, the Greater Dublin Area and the four regional cities and over €50 million to the Department's Greenways programme, I was delighted to announce earlier this year an additional €72.8 million to projects in the 19 remaining local authorities.

This funding stream constitutes the first ever major Active Travel investment programme for rural Ireland, and amounts to more than the entire Active Travel budget for 2019. A full list of programmes being funded can be found on the NTA website. The overall increase in funding across urban and rural Ireland will not only support the construction and improvement of safe and connected walking and cycling infrastructure but also the deployment of almost 250 dedicated Active Travel staff in local authorities around the country.

In addition to the increased funding for walking and cycling infrastructure, a number of smaller-scale initiatives are being progressed by my Department to support and promote efforts to increase safe Active Travel across the country. The Department of Transport funds the delivery of CycleRight training through Cycling Ireland, which delivers cycling training to school-children around the country and equips them with the skills to cycle safely.

In partnership with the Department of Education we also launched the Safe Routes to Schools Programme earlier this year, which aims to accelerate the delivery of safe walking, scooting and cycling infrastructure on key access routes to schools. It has had a great response, with applications received from schools in every county in Ireland, and I expect to be in a position to announce the first round of funding under this programme before the end of this month.

The step-change in funding committed in Budget 2021 and the introduction of various innovative measures to encourage safe and connected Active Travel is proof of the Government's commitment to this area, and I look forward to the delivery of the numerous projects and programmes around the country, including in rural areas.