Timmy Dooley
Ceist:681 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on smarter travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14108/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 13 March 2012
Ceisteanna (627)
Freagraí scríofa
The promotion of smarter travel is a key policy objective of my Department, and indeed of the Government. Our aim is to make smarter travel choices available for all, by establishing safe walking and cycling routes, by funding national and local public transport services and by actively promoting smarter travel.
Smarter travel choices benefit the individual as they are cheaper and healthier, benefit our communities and economy due to reduced congestion and pollution and improved road safety, and will help us to meet our energy consumption and emission reduction targets.
My Department is pursuing the smarter travel agenda through programmes which use local expertise, guided by international best practice, to develop infrastructure in towns and villages to support sustainable transport, such as bike lanes and improved pedestrian facilities.
The Smarter Travel Areas scheme is the Department's flagship project for smarter travel development, under which three towns — Limerick, Dungarvan and Westport — have been awarded substantial funding for sustainable transport facilities and support measures. The experiences in these towns will be evaluated to develop national best practice for sustainable transport investment.
The provision of funding for infrastructure is supported by programmes to inform people of the smarter choices available to them, including the Smarter Travel Workplaces programme, the Green Schools initiative and the nationwide promotion of cycling through the annual Bike Week.
Encouraging a shift to Smarter Travel is a policy objective across Government. Examples of how other Departments and agencies are promoting this policy include the cycle to work tax relief scheme and the promotion of the health benefits of walking and cycling.