Press release
Minister Ross launches review of Sustainable Mobility
Published on
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, today announced a review of Ireland’s sustainable mobility policy, the first review in over 10 years.
The Minister said that sustainable mobility plays a key role in addressing the challenges Ireland faces in tackling climate change.
Minister Ross stated:
“As committed under the Programme for a Partnership Government and the Climate Action Plan this review will look at all aspects of Ireland’s current active travel and public transport policies with a view to producing a new vision for sustainable mobility in Ireland. This review will help set a sustainable path into the future.
"Last year I met with stakeholders in the Mansion House to hear their views. Since then we’ve reflected on the issues raised at that event and undertaken significant work of our own in developing a range of background papers to support this public consultation.
"I’d encourage everyone interested in sustainable mobility to read through the extensive material we are publishing today and let us know their views on what sort of policy we need to facilitate the step-change required in how we travel and how we think about travelling."
An extensive range of background papers has been produced looking at various different aspects of sustainable mobility and setting out questions designed to help assist with developing the new policy framework.
Minister Ross said that the last policy documents on sustainable transport - Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future and a National Cycle Policy Framework - were published in 2009.
Significant change has occurred since then and this new review will provide a platform to receive public feedback on:
The Minister said:
“I look forward to engaging with people on this important review and shaping a new vision for sustainable mobility in Ireland.”
All documentation related to this review is available to view on www.dttas.gov.ie and the public consultation period extends until 24 January 2020.
ENDS
An overview document is available to view at: www.gov.ie/en/consultation.
Sustainable mobility is about linking people and places in a sustainable way by supporting:
The National Travel Survey 2016 reported that approximately 74% of all trips in Ireland were by private car, with approximately 17% by active travel modes (walking and cycling) and 6% by public transport.
Since 2009 and publication of the last policy frameworks almost €7 billion of taxpayer funding has delivered public transport, and active travel, infrastructure and services across the country.
Project Ireland 2040 forecasts an additional 1 million people living in Ireland over the next 20 years, with around 600,000 extra jobs and 550,000 new houses.
We need to cater for this growth in a sustainable manner and how we travel and how we think about travel has an important role to play.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has today published a suite of thematic background papers on issues relating to:
In addition, the department has also published a report of last year’s Ministerial roundtable discussion with stakeholders, an evaluation of the Smarter Travel Areas programme and a status review of the actions contained within both Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future and the National Cycle Policy Framework.
The public consultation period extends until 24 January 2020 and all submissions received will be considered in the development of the new policy framework.
All documentation is available to view on gov.ie/dttas.