Vol. 539 No. 3
184 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the steps he has taken to implement the mobility management plans for staff commuting to their departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19463/01]
I strongly support the purpose of mobility management plans, which is to encourage and support more sustainable travel patterns among staff, clients and other visitors to organisations. The employer's guide to mobility management plans produced by the Dublin Transportation Office in conjunction with Kirkless Metropolitan Council and the Irish Energy Centre provides a useful template for all employers. The guide acknowledges that a mobility management plan may take the form of a formally published document or may simply evolve over time as different initiatives are piloted and that either approach is appropriate. A number of initiatives are in place in my Department which support sustainable travel patterns among staff as follows: well located cycle parking facilities and changing and shower facilities for cyclists are available; flexible working hours are available to most staff which promote a staggered pattern of staff arrivals and departures; use of public transport and a Departmental taxi account for business travel in Dublin reduces the need for staff to travel to work by car. The approved norm for local business travel for staff is public transport where available. Use of private cars is permitted only where it can be justified in the public interest, eg. where no suitable public transport is available.
