Labour Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan has learnt that the proposed 22km Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycleway will be carried out in three phases in the Dublin City Council area and that proposed flood defences will be part of its construction.

Deputy Broughan had earlier raised allegations that the construction works for the cycle route are being used by Dublin City Council in particular to facilitate a wider agenda for new sea defence structures, road widening projects and as preparatory works for the new North Dublin water pipeline. Dublin City Manager John Tierney has now reported that in the Dublin City area Phase one of the new Cycleway will be at Dollymount, Phase Two will be at Sandymount and Phase Three will be the City Centre section linking Phases One and Two.

Manager Tierney explained, "Since the original S2S concept was first mooted and studied by the Dublin Region Authority (concept stage), Dublin City Council produced a Coastal Flood Protection proposal in 2005. The two phases of S2S (Phases 1 and 2) are in areas where a need for increased coastal flood protection has been identified. The S2S project addresses the need for coastal flood protection as identified in Coastal studies." Phase One of the S2S Cycleway (The Dollymount Promenade and Flood Protection Project) "fills in a 2km gap at Bull Island (and)…is at detailed design and planning stage and an EIS was lodged with An Bord Pleanala on 29th June 2009. The City Centre S2S section Phase 3 (along existing streets from Alfie Byrne Road to North Wall Quays) is being advanced through design phase at present to link with cycling facilities proposed in conjunction with the Samuel Beckett Bridge being commissioned in 2010."

Deputy Broughan has also raised this matter with the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey after an alleged serious disagreement between the Minister and Dublin City Council over funding for the project. Minister Dempsey told Deputy Broughan that this and other cycle infrastructure until 2010 is "dependent on a cost effective solution focused on the cycle route itself."