Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the commitment on page 14 of the Programme for Government to establish a national public transport forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56312/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government encompasses a wide and ambitious range of commitments for public transport, one of which is the establishment of a national level forum in relation to public transport.
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department is currently finalising a new Sustainable Mobility Policy Framework which I hope to publish before the end of this year. The new policy will support the ambitions of the Programme for Government by setting out a strategic framework for walking, cycling and public transport to 2030.
The development of the new policy has been informed by the review of the existing sectoral policy (known as Smarter Travel), submissions received during my Department's public consultation period and the views and recommendations of other relevant stakeholders. The new policy will provide a platform to advance the ambitions of the Programme for Government in the area of sustainable mobility and will replace the Smarter Travel policy, dating from 2009. Our Programme for Government commitment about a public transport forum will be progressed in the context of the new policy.
