Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
110. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future - A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009 - 2020 is an active transport policy; if so, the progress in implementing this policy to date; his plans for future implementation and revision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16660/20]
View answerAs the Deputy states, Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future was published in 2009 and set out national policy in relation to sustainability in transport over the period 2009 to 2020.
Smarter Travel remains government policy. Noting the policy horizon envisaged at the time of publication ends this year, the Deputy may be aware that an assessment of implementation progress has already been published and is available to view on my Department's website.
That assessment was conducted as part of the broader review of sustainable mobility policy which my Department has been undertaking. Over 250 submissions were received as part of a public consultation process held between end-November 2019 and February 2020 and these are currently being analysed. I intend to publish a report of the public consultation process shortly.
Unfortunately the targets in the Smarter Travel policy are not being achieved, reflecting the fact that some of the key actions in the policy have not been implemented. I intend, relying on this assessment and consultation, to develop a new policy framework for the next 10 years that can provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme. The new policy statement will build on the policies and actions of Smarter Travel and set out additional polices and actions to advance the ambitions of the Programme for Government in the area of sustainable mobility, including active travel, and will replace the 2009 policy.
