Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
95. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on the expansion of active travel funding for educational and hospital campuses, to include funding for large business parks, and overall expansion of supports for active travel infrastructure, including supports for workplace showers, wet gear storage and secure overnight bike parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22119/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority's (NTA's) Smarter Travel Programme is a national voluntary behaviour change programme and supports workplaces and third-level institutions to develop and implement sustainable travel plans for staff and student bodies, including the measures highlighted by the Deputy.
Programme partners are invited to survey their staff and students about how they commute to work or campus. The survey report guides organisations on how they can best facilitate, encourage and promote an increase in active and sustainable commuting. Partners include private and public sector organisations including local authorities, leading hospitals and third level universities.
Some of the private sector organisations are located in business parks such as Raheen, Ringaskiddy and Eastpoint. However, the dispersed location of business parks is often difficult to serve well with public transport and has been designed in a car-centric manner. For example, the distance from the front gate of the business park to the businesses within can often be quite long and car parking is generally provided for all. In this context, it can be difficult to illicit behavioural change in these areas.
It is therefore evident that there is not one sole solution to encourage modal shift; as well as infrastructure provision there needs to be buy-in from both employer and employee which is the overall aim of the Smarter Travel Programme. The Department and the NTA are supporting these behavioural change initiatives through continued and increasing investment in active travel and public transport services and infrastructure across the country to help people make the switch.
