AQW 25261/11-15

Mr Daithí McKay
Sinn Féin
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 04/09/2013
Answered On Date: 24/10/2013
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how much his Department has invested in cycling infrastructure in (i) Moyle; (ii) Ballymena; and (iii) Ballymoney in each of the last five years.

Answer:

I would advise the Member that I have recently instructed my officials to give increased and focused priority to the needs of cyclists, to encourage greater participation in this healthy and sustainable form of transport. To that end, I am establishing a new cycling unit to ensure cycling issues and initiatives are progressed in a more coherent and coordinated manner across my Department, in partnership with local government, voluntary bodies, public transport operators and the health and education sectors.

With regard to my Department’s investment in infrastructure, details of the amounts spent in each of the last five financial years in the Moyle, Ballymoney and Ballymena Council areas are set out in the table below:

Year	Moyle	Ballymoney	Ballymena
2008/09	-	£90,000	£57,000 *
2009/10	£800	£163,000	£45,000
2010/11	-	-	-
2011/12	-	-	-
2012/13	-	£39,000	-

This expenditure included a range of schemes including National Cycle Network (NCN) Route signage, Safe Routes to Schools, developing NCN routes and providing local cycling routes.

* includes DRD contribution towards a £217,000 scheme jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (75%) and Roads Service (25%).