Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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289. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the achievement of the target for a 50% increase in daily active travel journeys; and to provide a breakdown of the increase by different modes of active travel. [63449/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) was published in April 2022. At the time of publication, the Policy sought to support the achievement of targets set out in Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21), namely at least 500,000 additional daily active travel and public transport journeys by 2030 and a 10% reduction in the number of kilometres driven by fossil-fuelled cars.

It was noted in the SMP that those targets might be subject to revision in later iterations of the Climate Action Plan once agreement had been reached on the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings (SECs). This subsequently occurred with the publication of Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), which was developed after the agreement on the SECs, and following a recalibration exercise carried out using the NTA’s Regional Modelling System to identify a series of measures that could collectively achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions in the transport sector by 2030. These updated Climate Action Plan 2023 targets include a 50% increase in daily active travel journeys.

In terms of Active Travel journeys, the primary source of data available is through the National Household Travel Survey which is carried out on an annual basis. As such, the most effective means of measuring progress in delivering this target is through measuring the increase in mode share for active travel journeys. It has been calculated that it will be necessary to reach a mode share of 28% of journeys taking place through active means by 2030 in order to achieve the target of a 50% increase in daily active travel journeys. The NHTS showed that the mode share in 2024 was 20%. (Walking 18%, Cycling 2%).