To ask the Minister for Regional Development to outline any Road Safety schemes his Department is planning to introduce to coincide with the launch of the Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland.

I launched the draft Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland on 27th August 2014 for a twelve week period of public consultation. During the consultation period my Department is seeking views on the document and any other relevant issues which may not have been covered by the document.

Input received during the consultation period will be considered before the strategy is finalised and a Consultation Report outlining the Department’s response to the issues raised will be published.

Following the finalisation of the Strategy a Bicycle Strategy Delivery Plan will be published. The Delivery Plan will include details of specific projects that my Department is planning to take forward. Officials in my department and in DOE are working closely together to support my vision of more cycling, done safely and with mutual respect for other road users.

A key task in developing the Delivery Plan will be to work with stakeholders in the assessment and development of current bicycle infrastructure and progressing opportunities for new routes.