Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what schemes are available for schools and sports clubs to apply for funding for bicycle stands and shelters. [42816/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall funding and policy decisions in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area, including the development of cycling infrastructure.

The NTA fund cycle and scooter parking through the Green Schools Travel Programme and the Safer Routes to School programme, both administered by An Taisce.

This enables infrastructure to be provided where there is complementary behaviour change or infrastructural measures to support students cycling. It also enables a robust and cost-effective delivery process whereby schools are visited by the contractor and warranties are signed to allow the contractor to install on the school ground, meaning the schools don’t have to organise installation themselves, which can often be a barrier.

Since 2021 the NTA have funded the provision and installation of 15,420 cycle parking spaces, 3888 scooter parking spaces and 937 shelters as part of the SRTS and Green Schools Travel programme.

Some individual local authorities have provided cycle parking for sports clubs and schools also, at a much smaller scale, they would have their own individual process for application.