Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the length of time and the number of persons and organisations that engaged with his Department's public consultation on a review of sustainable mobility policy; the promotion of this public consultation that took place by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6279/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A collaborative approach has been taken by my Department in developing the forthcoming Sustainable Mobility Policy through public consultation and extensive stakeholder engagement.

A roundtable forum was held in 2018 which allowed for an initial exchange of views between stakeholders on a variety of issues relevant to the sustainable mobility sector including potential challenges and competing priorities likely to arise in the future. Over 50 stakeholder organisations and individuals were invited to attend that event including representatives from passenger and consumer interests; providers of bus, rail and taxi services; providers of transport infrastructure; trade unions with members working in public transport; cyclist and pedestrian advocacy groups; disability representatives; business groups; environmental interests; local authorities; regulators; legislators; policymakers; and analysts and academics who focus on sustainable mobility.

The round table discussion informed the development of a comprehensive set of background papers across a range of themes which were then published as part of the public consultation process launched at the end of 2019. Notice of the public consultation was placed on the Government website and was also advertised through social media and newspaper advertisements. A further stakeholder engagement event was held at that time with over 40 stakeholder organisations and individuals, along with engagement with the members of the three Regional Assemblies.

Over 250 submissions across a broad range of themes were received as part of the public consultation process which ended in February 2020 from people and organisations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Following a review of the submissions received, a report of the public consultation was published on my Department’s website and since then further bilateral engagement has taken place with other Government Departments, State bodies, advocacy groups, business groups, disability representatives and academics.

Both the submissions received as part of the public consultation process and the extensive stakeholder engagement have heavily influenced the development of the new Sustainable Mobility Policy which I will publish shortly.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has funded active travel measures on regional and national roads countrywide since January 2020; and if so, the location, routes, measures funded and the total funding amounts in tabular form. [6310/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

As part of the 2020 July Jobs Stimulus Plan, over €30 million was allocated by the Department’s Regional and Local Roads Division to eligible local authorities for active travel schemes. Eligible local authorities under the Department’s programme were all local authorities excluding those in the Greater Dublin Area and the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Funding for those areas was provided by the National Transport Authority under an equivalent programme.

In addition, a number of strategic regional and local road improvement schemes which are currently under construction or have been recently completed, incorporate provision for cycle tracks and footpaths. On average in excess of 20% of the total cost of each scheme can be attributed to cycling and walking elements. The relevant schemes completed since January 2020 or currently at construction stage are the Sligo Western Distributor Road; the Sallins Bypass Scheme, Kildare; the Laytown to Bettystown Road, Meath; the Tralee Northern Relief Road, Kerry; the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, Limerick; the Athy Southern Distributor Road, Kildare and the Shannon Crossing/Killaloe Bypass/ R494 Upgrade scheme, Clare and Tipperary.

In relation to schemes other than strategic improvement schemes, the detailed information is being prepared by my officials and a reply will issue as soon as possible.

Under the Programme for Government, €360m is allocated annually to fund the delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure across the country, much of this will be for specific stand-alone projects whilst some as mentioned above will be delivered as part of national and regional road projects. With regard to the provision of Active Travel measures on National and Regional Roads, I have asked TII and the NTA to provide this information directly to the Deputy. Should he not receive this information within 10 working days I would ask him to contact my office.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if changes to public roads through widening and so on, under BusConnects, is considered as roads expenditure or public transport expenditure in relation to the two to one split in capital spending on public transport versus roads expenditure; the category under which the provision of dedicated bus lanes on other public roads is considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6331/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Funding for dedicated bus lanes under the BusConnects programmes in the five cities is classified as public transport expenditure in the context of the Programme for Government commitments in relation to transport. Funding is also provided under the public transport investment programme for bus priority measures in other parts of the country.

Occasionally there can be some bus related interventions on national roads which are funded through the roads investment programme.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a portion of the expenditure on rural roads on which footpaths and dedicated cycle routes are developed adjacent to the road is considered to be expenditure on active travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6332/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Funding provided for the development of footpaths and cycle tracks as part of schemes on rural roads under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme is separate to the budget for sustainable transport/active travel measures which is administered by the National Transport Authority on behalf of the Department.