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Transport Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Ceisteanna (108)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

108. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the modal share targets set out in the smarter travel A Sustainable Transport Future, A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 will be met; and the details of new modal share targets his Department may have in place. [25400/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware "A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020" sets out key modal share targets for achievement by 2020.  These targets are aimed at reducing work-related commuting by car as a modal share of 65% to 45% and  accommodating car drivers on other modes of transport such as walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing to the extent that commuting by these modes would rise to 55% by 2020 (or through other measures such as e-working). 

Recent figures released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) National Travel Survey of 2016 indicate that the use of private cars nationally for work commuting purposes has dropped from 67% in 2011 to 66% in 2016 .  This has occurred against a background in the last few years of strong economic recovery, growth in the numbers of people at work, and consequent increases in travel demand and numbers of people commuting.

In the Greater Dublin Area there has been a much greater and a more significant modal shift. The Annual Canal Cordon Report recently published by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority - which provides data on trends in mode share of vehicles and people crossing the Canal Cordon in Dublin between 7am and 10am - indicates that a strong modal shift has been occurring in the Dublin City Centre area.  It shows that 70% of all inbound trips crossing the canal cordon were made by a sustainable mode which includes cycling, walking, taxi and other public transport.  Over the last 11 years, the share for sustainable modes has grown by 9 percentage points, and since 2010 there has continually been year-on-year growth.  The most recent figures show that the mode share for cars has dropped to under 30% for the first time; it is now 29.2%, compared to 40% as recently as 2010.

In order to continue to build on this momentum and to encourage further modal shift nationally, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured over €110m in capital funding which is directly allocated to develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford over the period 2018-2021.  A further €135m capital funding is allocated over this same period for investment in Sustainable Urban Transport projects, and these will include projects that will provide either direct or indirect improvements for urban cycling.  Investment of more than €750m on the Bus Connects Programme in the same period, will deliver a transformative investment package that will finance new and expanded bus routes, greatly improve bus access, and also includes the commencement of construction of core bus routes that include segregated cycle lanes and pedestrian footpath all which will greatly assist in encouraging modal shift. My Department also spends over €2.5m per annum on behavioural change programmes including Green Schools, Cycle Right and Smarter Travel Workplace and Campus programmes aimed at encouraging a modal shift.   

As the Deputy may be aware my Department has commenced a review of public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”. Work on this policy review is at an early stage and is currently drawing together data and information from many sources, including that discussed earlier, which will inform its work. My Department will continue to monitor trends in modal shift in order to inform future policies in the context of encouraging further modal shift from the private car to sustainable public transport modes.

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