Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 March 2026
65. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the national policy regarding protected cycling and pedestrian infrastructure; the way in which this is communicated to local authorities and reviewed thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17775/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra66. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the national policy regarding protected cycling and pedestrian infrastructure; the way in which this is communicated to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and reviewed thereafter and; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17776/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.
There is a comprehensive suite of national policy documentation relating to cycling and pedestrian infrastructure which provide for a comprehensive national standard for planning, designing, and delivering safe, consistent, high quality cycling infrastructure across the country. Specific documents include the Cycle Design Manual, Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) and the Rural Cycleway Design (Offline and Greenways) Manual.
Examples of areas covered within these documents include infrastructure interventions such as protected junctions, Dutch style cycle-friendly roundabouts, and parallel crossings which are commonly used in other countries and will now become an option for cycle infrastructure in Ireland. Other topics covered include surface finishes, lighting provision and drainage arrangements appropriate to the specific environment. These documents ensure consistency in the advice and requirements regarding the technical acceptance and design of structures for use in protected cycling and walking infrastructure. These documents are subject to regular review by the appropriate agency i.e., the National Transport Authority (NTA) or Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The latest version of the guidance should be accessible through the relevant agency website.
In the event of any revisions to standards documentation, I have been advised that notification will be provided by the NTA and TII to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) – the representative body for local government. This may be complemented by seminars aimed at local authority officials in relation to the specific changes contained within the document.
Apart from standards documentation regarding protected cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, national policy documents setting out the planned development of infrastructure include the National Cycle Network, CycleConnects (due to be published in 2026) and the Greater Dublin Area Cycling Plan. These documents set out the planned future network and include proposals for cycling links in key cities, towns and villages in each county as well as between population centres. These strategic plans also incorporate existing and planned cycle routes such as greenways and blueways, the overall objective of these plans is to provide for a safe, accessible and convenient network for active travel users.
