4 Public Consultation.

Table 1.3: Stakeholder Classification

	Type			Organisation
Delivery Partners			Dept. of Transport		County and City Management Association (CCMA)
			National Transport Authority (NTA)
Engaged Parties			Fáilte Ireland		Cycle user groups (via cyclist.ie)
			Waterways Ireland		Cycling Ireland
			Irish Rail		Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland
			Sport Ireland
Interested Parties			Coillte		An Taisce
			Office of Public Works (OPW)		Road Safety Authority (RSA)
			Dept. of Education		Chambers of Commerce
			Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)		Greenways Ireland
			Disability Federation of Ireland		Eurovelo
			Bus Éireann		Health Service Executive (HSE)

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement incorporates steps three and four outlined in Figure 1.4. Different approaches to engagement were used with different groups and at different stages, as follows:

Project governance – All three Delivery Partners (DoT, NTA and CCMA) were represented on the NCN Advisory Group and were actively involved in project reviews via regular, scheduled meetings.

1-to-1 virtual meetings – Included both regularly scheduled meetings with key Delivery Partners and ad hoc meetings to discuss project details as needed. They also provided project updates and solicited input and feedback with Engaged Parties.

Website – Used for public consultation to communicate project objectives, approach and proposed network, as well as other general information regarding the Plan.

Presentations – Used to promote the NCN website during public consultation.

Written submissions / Structured questionnaire – Used to engage Interested Parties and the general public and to solicit input and gather feedback during the public consultation.

A summary of the outcome of the stakeholder engagement activities undertaken over the course of the project is provided below:

Stage 1: Planning involved initial engagement with stakeholders and programme commencement. This clarified the objectives of the project amongst stakeholders and helped establish the mechanisms for further engagement throughout the development of the Plan. This stage also defined the inputs required from the various stakeholders and when this information will be required.

Stage 2: Data Collection focused on collating information to help develop further the inventory of the existing and planned infrastructure. This engagement was used to develop a comprehensive understanding of the issues and opportunities as they relate to existing and future cycling infrastructure in Ireland and gain feedback on the selected nodes that the NCN aims to connect.

Stage 3: Options Development and Assessment focused on gaining feedback on the Plan’s development of the proposed NCN corridors. Stakeholders provided input to the emerging network

National Cycle Network Plan

at key stages of development in advance of the public consultation: Defining destinations and developing corridors.

Stage 4: Public Consultation was facilitated through an online platform with widespread publicising of the draft Plan and consultation period through the Department of Transport’s media channels. The consultation period was open for a period of five weeks after which analysis of the feedback was undertaken.

Public Consultation

A comprehensive public consultation for the NCN Plan was developed to give members of the public and other interested parties an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed network.

The consultation was conducted online through an interactive website which included detailed information on the plan objectives, methodology and proposed network. It also included an online survey with the opportunity to provide open feedback / comments.

The consultation period lasted for over one month, from May 4th until Jun 7th, 2022 (inclusive). During that period 21,000 views of the website were registered from over 9,000 unique visitors.

TII and the DoT issued a press release through their websites inviting participation in the consultation and also promoted the public consultation via a social media campaign throughout the public consultation period. Newspapers and online media sites published numerous articles regarding the launch of the public consultation. Other stakeholders also promoted the public consultation – in particular, Cyclist.ie notified its members. All actions assisted in increasing awareness of the website and public consultation.

The public consultation website presented the proposed NCN via an interactive map and also detailed the NCN vision statement and project objectives, as well as various other elements of the project. It included a feedback survey that consisted of eight questions regarding cycling behaviour, infrastructure preferences, alignment of the proposed NCN with project objectives, potential use of the NCN, as well as general feedback on the proposed Plan and the associated SEA Environmental Report (available in Appendix G).

The number of online submissions received was over 1,350. The conversion rate of approximately 15% (percentage of unique visitors who left a submission) was relatively high (industry average is approximately 7%) and reflects a reasonable level of engagement by visitors to the website regarding the proposed NCN Plan.

Written submissions were also received (both by post and email) from 38 different entities ranging from individuals and private companies to interest groups and defined stakeholders.

1.5Environmental Assessment

Environmental matters are integral to development and delivery of the NCN Plan. In addition to incorporating environmental matters and biodiversity in the network objectives and development, both a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and an Appropriate Assessment (AA) of the plan were undertaken.

The SEA is a process for the formal, systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme, before a decision is made to adopt the plan or programme. The assessment provides for a high level of protection of the environment and contributes to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans. To determine whether a full SEA is required, an SEA Screening Report is prepared at the early stages of development of plans or programmes.

An AA is an assessment of the potential adverse effects of a plan or project (in combination with other plans or projects) on the Natura 2000 network of European sites, i.e. Special Areas of Conservation

National Cycle Network Plan

(SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). To test whether AA is required for a particular plan or project, an AA screening is first undertaken. Its purpose is to determine, on the basis of a preliminary assessment and objective criteria, whether a plan or project, alone and in combination with other plans or projects, could have significant effects on a European site in view of the site’s conservation objectives. Where significant effects are likely, uncertain or unknown at this screening stage, a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is prepared.

Both assessments were prepared and submitted to the relevant authorities for review as part of a public consultation process and the proposed NCN was updated based on the feedback received. The various Environmental Reports are provided in the following appendices:

Appendix F: SEA Screening Report.

Appendix G: SEA Environmental Report.

Appendix H: SEA Adoption Statement.

Appendix I: Natura Impact Statement.

Background Research

Figure from page 23

National Cycle Network Plan

Background Research

The development of the NCN Plan was underpinned by a comprehensive data collection exercise. This section summarises the data collection, background research and analysis undertaken to inform development of the NCN Plan including:

A review of cycling trends in Ireland.

A policy review.

A literature review.

An inventory of the existing network.

An assessment of international best practice in the planning and implementation of National Cycle Networks.

A market research exercise.

2.1Cycling Trends in Ireland

The literature review also revealed key insights about recent cycling trends in Ireland, as summarised below.

The volume of people walking and cycling in Ireland has increased dramatically in recent years due to a combination of improved infrastructure (43km of new protected cycle routes added between 2019-2021 in Dublin alone), peoples increased awareness of the health and environmental benefits and as a result of the uptake in these modes following the ‘enforced’ introduction to new users during COVID-19.

Between 2019 and 2021 the number of annual cycling trips in Dublin increased from 86.6 million to 90.2 million (4%). Combined with walking trips this takes 330,000 cars off the road every day in the Dublin Metropolitan Area across Dublin, according to the 2021 Walking and Cycling Index2