Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Transport when the national pedestrian strategy will be published; the key measures that will be contained in the strategy; if they will include home zone residential estates; if the strategy will necessitate new legislation; the cost of the new pedestrian strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13695/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment to deliver a National Walking Policy is contained in one of 49 actions in Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future. Given the range of issues to be addressed in the new Smarter Travel policy, I expect that progress on the walking policy in 2009 will focus on researching best practice and identifying the issues so that we are in a better position to publish a policy in 2010.

To progress this area I intend setting up an interdepartmental working group. This group will ensure that the new policy integrates best practice from existing initiatives, and identifies the necessary additional initiatives. In terms of "home zones", the working group will consider the issue of how road space can be best managed to ensure walking fully realises its potential. All such issues will be considered in the terms of existing work in the area and the Smarter Travel policy. It is too early to say what the cost of the National Walking Policy will be.