Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself with the level of statistical information available to local authorities outside of Dublin on traffic congestion commuter numbers, freight traffic, mode use and so on; the efforts he has made in terms of funding to support the provision of such information; if a funding stream exists for such research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16238/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics on these issues are available from a variety of sources including the Central Statistics Office and State agencies. For example, statistics on commuting patterns and mode use are available from the Central Statistics Office in publications such as the Census of Population (Travel to Work, School and College) Volume, and the Road Freight Transport Survey. Statistics on freight and other traffic flows on the national road network are made publicly available by the National Roads Authority.

I acknowledge that there is a need to improve the quality of transport statistics. My Department has carried out a review of its statistical requirements in recent months, in the context of the Central Statistics Office's recent evaluation of administrative and statistical data holdings (Statistical Potential of Administrative Records (SPAR) Report). My Department is in contact with the CSO in relation to securing the services of a full time statistician with a view to developing a Data/Statistics Strategy for this Department to support both policy-making and improved dissemination of transport statistics.