Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to promote alternatives to the private car as a school transport option in view of the recent report published by the Dublin Transportation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24156/07]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport the schemes his Department has funded in the Dublin south central electoral area to discourage the use of private cars as a means of school transportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24157/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.

The public information campaign One Small Step encourages drivers in the Greater Dublin Area to examine their car usage patterns and to think about using other ways of getting around, such as walking, cycling or public transport, whenever they can. The campaign targets car drivers specifically. The campaign promotes cycling and walking as one of the best ways of getting fresh air, regular exercise, saving money, saving journey time and benefiting the local and general environment.

It also emphasises safety and points to improved conditions for cyclists in Dublin City Centre since the Port Tunnel opened, with far fewer heavy vehicles in the city centre and extra sections of cycle lane and bus lane (which cyclists can use) on the north quays and, in general, improved the improved traffic environment in the city centre.

My Department has also provided funding to the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) who initiated the Safer Routes to School project in 2000, with 6 pilot schemes being implemented. The objectives of the Green Schools Initiative are to raise awareness of sustainable travel and transport, increase the number of children who walk and cycle, increase the number of families who 'park and stride' or 'carpool', improve safety on the school run by promoting safe practices and awareness of hazards, reduce school-related congestion, and improve physical health and fitness.

The programme was extended and currently has 29 schools with a combined student population of approximately 10,400 with 545 teachers. Results from the initiative show that, of journeys to school, between March and June 2006, walking increased by 7% to 40%, and car use decreased by 8% to 46%, while, on the journey from school, walking increased by 4% from 37% to 41% and car use fell by 9%. A further roll-out of the programme is being considered at present.

My Department is currently in the process of commissioning research in relation to best practice which will assist in the development of a National Cycling Policy. This will, in turn, feed into the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan, which the Government is committed to publishing in the Spring of 2008. That Plan will specifically address the issues relating to children travelling to and from school.

Regarding the question of schemes funded in the Dublin South Central Electoral Area, the disbursement of funds to the DTO is not broken down on an electoral area basis and therefore specific data are not readily available.