Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the measures his Department has introduced or plans to introduce during the lifetime of the current Government to increase the number of people travelling to work by bicycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24611/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is continuously exploring ways to encourage the uptake of cycling as a mode of transport. Our National Sustainable Mobility Policy examines the different behavioural change measures that can be explored to promote modal shift away from private car use and towards zero-emission transport modes such as walking, cycling and e-biking including for commuting to and from work.

My Department has invested a significantly increased level of funding in cycling infrastructure since the start of this Government's term in 2020. I firmly believe that further continued investment is required to ensure cycling is seen as a safe and attractive option for travelling to and from work.

In this regard, €290 million has been allocated by the Department of Transport to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2023 for Active Travel measures around the country. The NTA disperses this funding to all local authorities, works with them to identify walking and cycling projects and oversees their delivery. This investment will provide safe, alternative, active, travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure, making cycling to work an option for a greater number of people.

The Programme for Government commits to “widening the eligibility of the Bike to Work scheme”. The Deputy will be aware that in Budget 2021, my colleague, the then Minister for Finance, increased the thresholds for the Cycle to Work scheme to enable the purchase of e-bikes and more recently the thresholds were increased again in the most recent Budget to accommodate the purchase of cargo bikes and cargo e-bikes.

Investment in infrastructure and equipment must be matched with investment in behavioural change programmes to encourage people to adopt healthier and more sustainable habits as part of their day to day routine. To this end, my Department continues to fund the NTA's Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campuses programme which works with large employers and third level institutions to encourage more sustainable commuting and travel choices among their students and staff. The Smarter Travel team provides a package of measures to promote cycling, walking, public transport, car sharing, the use of technology instead of travel, and flexible working packages.

Funding for the Smarter Travel programme in 2023 contains an allocation for the Smarter Travel Mark Pathfinder Project. This project will provide organisations with recognition as a workplace or campus that is committed to active and sustainable travel for their workforce, students and visitors. To achieve the Smarter Travel Mark, organisations will have to demonstrate robust communications, policies, facilities, incentives and supports in favour of sustainable commuting and business travel. The Mark was officially launched on 9th May 2023.

As part of an overall coordinated approach to the provision of an integrated sustainable transport network of cycling, walking and public transport, these various investments will allow us to further increase the numbers cycling, thereby easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our towns and cities; the investment will, I believe, have a lasting transformative effect on our transport network over the coming years.

My Department will also continue to undertake research into other additional measures which could be introduced to promote modal shift and encourage uptake of cycling across all demographics, including commuters, as part of the annual Budgetary process.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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218. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the estimated number of people who cycle to work nationally; how Ireland ranks relative to other EU Members States on this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24612/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what research his Department, or its agencies, have undertaken to examine barriers to cycling to work; the key findings of any such research; the work his Department is undertaking to address these barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24613/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together.

In terms of data and research in relation to cycling and barriers to same, my Department has relied on studies such as the Census and the National Transport Authority's (NTA's) National Household Travel Survey. It is recognised, however, that these studies are carried out as part of a 5-year cycle and therefore we do not have up-to-date data as the cycle nears its end.

In order to gain an understanding of the impact of our Active Travel investment and address this data gap, the NTA is now working with Sustrans to carry out the Walking and Cycling Index in Ireland's main cities. First undertaken in Dublin in 2021, it has been rolled out this year to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford metropolitan areas. This study will provide high quality evidence on people's participation in, and attitudes to walking, wheeling or cycling as well as the barriers to same, and reports are due to be published in early 2024.

While these studies will not provide national data, they will give a good indication of the impact of our Active Travel programmes in our major urban centres. New data from both the Census and the National Household Transport Survey are also expected this year which will provide the national picture.

Additionally, my Department has established the Sustainable Mobility Research Network on foot of an action in the National Sustainable Mobility Policy. It aims to advise on, agree and focus resources towards research priorities that provide an evidence base for implementation of the Policy, and includes representatives from the Department, relevant agencies including the NTA, and the Regional Assemblies. This group will map research currently being undertaken, identify gaps, and ensure that research conducted aligns with Government policy. This work will help to provide a more comprehensive data and evidence-base for policy and funding decisions going forward.

In terms of addressing barriers, my Department is continuously exploring ways to encourage the uptake of cycling as a mode of transport. It fully supports the provision of safe and direct cycling infrastructure, in line with the NTA's Active Travel Programme, and funds a number of behavioural change, training and participatory programmes to encourage greater levels of cycling across the population. Whilst significant investment has been undertaken in recent years, I firmly believe that further continued investment is required to ensure cycling is seen as a safe and attractive option for travel.