AQW 25650/11-15

Mr Peter Weir
Democratic Unionist Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 12/09/2013
Answered On Date: 02/10/2013
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the Get Britain Cycling Report which recommends that a minimum of £10 per head is spent annually by the Government on cycling.

Answer:

I am committed to promoting and supporting safer cycling for cyclists of all ages. There have been significant developments in the provision of cycling facilities across Northern Ireland and this report and any reports from the NI Assembly will be important context. At the beginning of August I published an Action Plan for Active Travel that will take forward the proposals of the Active Travel Strategy which I launched in January of this year. It brings together walking and cycling initiatives to be delivered by Government Departments, local authorities and interested stakeholders during the period 2012-2015.

I have asked my officials to ensure that there is a greater focus and priority on measures to assist cyclists in future and am establishing a cycling unit in my Department to ensure that this is achieved. I also intend to bid for additional in-year funding for cycling infrastructure, when opportunities arise.

As part of the New Approach to Regional Transportation my Department is currently developing transport spending proposals which will feed into the next Programme for Government budget process. This is being undertaken through a policy fit process which will identify those transport schemes which will best achieve the strategic objectives of the Northern Ireland Executive. This will be a mechanism for assessing how much is to be spent going forward.