Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 32 together.

According to the census in 2011 around 1.14 million people drove to work or were passengers in a car, representing 69% of commuters. That was very similar to 2006 when around 1.18 million people drove to work or were passengers in a car. Despite the fall in car commuting numbers, due to lower numbers in employment, car mode share was higher in 2011, standing at 69% of commuters compared to 66% in 2006, which I noted with disappointment.  I was, however, heartened to note the cycling numbers, up from 36,000 in 2006 to 39,000 for people travelling to work, and up from 54,000 to 61,000 for travel to work and education. This increase, although from a modest base, reverses a long standing trend of fewer people commuting by bike.

This Government recognises the challenge ahead and remains committed to decreasing reliance on the private car.  We are taking a two-pronged approach to improving sustainable commuting rates: investment in public transport and infrastructure to facilitate cycling and walking, allied to support for programmes to encourage people to make smarter travel decisions. In addition to funding for facilities or infrastructure to make smarter travel safer and more attractive to users, my Department funds a number of schemes to encouragesmarter travel, including the travel element of the Green Schools programme, which is proving successful in securing behavioural change on the school run, a new Smarter Campuses programme and Smarter Travel Workplaces, which helps employers to bring smarter travel to their workplaces.

In the greater Dublin area, my Department works with the NTA to decrease reliance on private car use. Successful initiatives in the region include the dublinbikes scheme and continued investment in cycle lanes and pedestrian measures. The region is served by an extensive public transport network greatly improved by the roll out of RTPI and the Leap card over the last year. A reduction in car trips can only be achieved if we all make smarter travel choices.  The Government will continue to focus on facilitating and encouraging people to consider using public transport or walking and cycling, where possible.

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