Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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255. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to encourage active travel modes to and from work in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17380/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to encouraging the use of active travel measures when travelling to and from work. These efforts were recognised recently when my Department was awarded a Gold Certificate as a cycle-friendly employer under the European Bike2Work project. We are the second Government Department to achieve this certification and it acknowledges my Department’s work in improving active travel modes. The cycle-friendly employer certification scheme was developed to establish a European standard for cycle friendly organisations and to increase the number of employees who cycle to work. In addition, my Department is a member of the Smarter Travel Workplaces Partner scheme. This scheme is run by the National Transport Authority (NTA) who support member organisations in encouraging sustainable and active travel.

Various initiatives have been undertaken by my Department to improve active travel infrastructure across Departmental locations, including; the provision of lockers, secure bicycle storage facilities, changing rooms and shower facilities. Furthermore, my Department encourages staff use of active travel and sustainable transport options through regular internal communications to all staff relating to both the Annual Travel Pass scheme and Cycle to Work scheme and the active monitoring of staff participation in same.

The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table: