Vol. 539 No. 3
95 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she has taken to implement the mobility management plans for staff commuting to their departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19451/01]
I strongly support the purpose of mobility management plans, which aims 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 Kirklees 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 have been put in place or are planned in my Department which support sustainable travel patterns among staff. Well located cycle parking facilities are provided as are changing and shower facilities for cyclists, flexible working hours are available to most staff which promotes a staggered pattern of staff arrivals and departures and thus contributes to reducing congestion, it is proposed to extend flexible working time bands with the introduction of new management software. Arrangements are in train for the introduction of teleworking to be run initially on a pilot basis. The use of public transport and a Department taxi account for business travel in Dublin reduces the need for staff to travel to work by car and thus contributes to reducing congestion. The approved norm for domestic 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.
