Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Smarter Travel is a national behavioural change programme, led by the NTA, which supports employers and third level institutions to implement voluntary Travel Plans. These plans focus on promoting and encouraging staff and students to sustainably and actively commute and beyond, and for organisations to consider flexible working arrangements. Campuses are also encouraged to promote Smarter Travel as part of the curriculum and through student projects.

I am encouraged to see a growing number of Irish Third Level Campuses engaging in Smarter Travel, working with students and employees to facilitate more sustainable travel choices – resulting in better access, enhanced student and employee wellbeing, reduced costs, reduced carbon emissions, and more effective parking management.

Twenty-eight third level campuses are already partners in the programme of which there are currently five colleges of further education, namely:

- Cork Education and Training Board

- Dunboyne College of Further Education

- Kerry Education and Training Board

- Marino College of Education

- Limerick College of Further Education

In some cases further education campuses are relatively dispersed so in these cases it can be challenging to gather representative data on which to base a college-wide travel plan. It can also be challenging to implement significant changes in cases where the campus is located out of urban centres and cases where onsite attendance is intermittent. The nature of the Programme is voluntary, but I would encourage any other third level campus that is not engaged in the programme to sign up by contacting the Smarter Travel team in the NTA.

In further recognition of this programme, I was delighted to launch The Smarter Travel Mark in May of last year. This is a three tier certification that recognises and celebrates organisations that support active and sustainable travel on the commute and beyond for their workforce, students and visitors, resulting in a reduction in single-person car usage.