Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Transport when he plans to publish proposals for a new green driving test; the measures the new green driving test will contain; if he will bring forward a full new eco-driving programme; if so, the amount of funding which will be allocated to it and the time period involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21246/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Smarter Travel, the new sustainable transport policy, specifically mentions eco-driving. Action 36 states:

We will include a module on efficient driving as part of the rules of the road and national driver test. We will also require that all public authorities ensure that their drivers are trained in efficient driving and that this is part of their job specification. We will ensure that, as part of the Climate Change Awareness Campaign, there is a sustained focus on the issue of driver behaviour. We will commission research to determine the on-board technology that can be introduced in public vehicles to reinforce eco-driving behaviour and promote efficient driving in the haulage industry.

Although the new Smarter Travel Policy was only launched in February, my officials have already held two meetings with the Road Safety Authority to examine the issues relating to the implementation of this action. It has been agreed that a team will be assigned to develop a programme to deliver the action and, later this year, I will be setting out the steps we will be taking to meet it.