Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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It is unclear what statutory obligations the Deputy references in his question; however he can be assured that my Department is funding local authorities throughout the country to assist them with their response to the mobility needs of their local communities, including local schools where identified by the relevant local authorities.

In May, the National Transport Authority (NTA) wrote to all 31 local authorities to offer its financial and technical support in responding to Covid-19 mobility challenges and this support is being funded through my Department's sustainable mobility investment programme. I am glad to say that positive outcomes of this technical and financial support are increasingly evident in a number of local authority areas and I hope to see even more positive developments in the coming weeks and months ahead.

In order to build upon the work already undertaken I recently announced a further €82 million to support pedestrians and cyclists across the country in the coming months as part of the July Stimulus. This funding will further support local authorities as they assess the needs of their local communities, including local schools, and look to put in place new or improved infrastructure. Within the overall programme there will also be a specific initiative to support increased bicycle parking at schools which will hopefully complement infrastructure works supported by the broader programme in the wider community.

I have no doubt the Deputy welcomes the supports announced and like him I very much look forward to re-orientating our streets toward walking and cycling, including for people walking and cycling to schools.

In support of these current initiatives, I can inform him that my Department is undertaking a review of sustainable mobility policy.  Over 250 submissions were received as part of a public consultation process held between November 2019 and February 2020 and these are currently being analysed.  I intend to publish a report of the public consultation process shortly.

I intend to develop a new policy framework for the next 10 years that can provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme.  The new policy statement will be informed by the review of the previous policy framework (known as Smarter Travel), submissions received during my Department's consultation period and the views and recommendations of other relevant stakeholders and will provide a platform to advance the ambitions of the Programme for Government in the area of sustainable mobility, including active travel, and will replace the previous Smarter Travel policy, dating from 2009.