Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans, if any, to tackle congestion in Cork city which is now the 38th most congested city in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3950/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I fully accept that Cork has a particular difficulty with traffic congestion, which is having implications for the city’s environment - and more importantly - for the quality of life of its inhabitants and for visitors to the city. Congestion also presents a problem for both the local and national economy.

As well as the economic implications, time lost from congestion also gives rise to personal and societal costs. A long-term solution to congestion is already underway and being addressed through investment in infrastructure and services to support walking, cycling and public transport options.

This investment underpins the objectives of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP). The SMP, which covers the period 2022 to 2030, sets out a framework to improve and expand sustainable mobility options across the country by providing safe, green, accessible and efficient alternatives to car journeys.

Many positive steps have already been taken to address congestion under this policy – several large public transport infrastructure projects are now at an advanced stage of planning, and the development of feasible alternatives to the car have been rolled out for local journeys through the provision of shared mobility options and safe active travel infrastructure. The new Programme for Government reaffirms its support of this policy with a commitment to 'Develop a new Sustainable Mobility Action Plan which promotes sustainable modes and transport-oriented development to address congestion, improve air quality and reduce noise, and enhance attractiveness and accessibility of cities, neighbourhoods and town centres'.

To further address the issue of congestion, my department developed and published a new transport strategy for public consultation last year. The aim of this strategy - 'Moving Together: A Strategic Approach to the Improved Efficiency of the Transport System in Ireland' is to make our transport system more efficient and to alleviate the impacts of car-dependency and congestion on the economy, the environment and the health of our society.

By reducing congestion, buses can travel more freely, and the reliability of services can be considerably improved. Equally, less congestion means safer conditions for walking and cycling. The two approaches are mutually reinforcing. Less congestion also means less harmful emissions in our atmosphere, and improvements to our air quality, as well as to the safety and liveability of our urban spaces.

I am keen, in my new tenure as Minister for Transport, to build on the above momentum, and to promote the provision and use of sustainable mobility options - options that will help to facilitate healthier and less polluting forms of travel, and to ease congestion across our towns and cities, including Cork.