559. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if a formal review of the Active Travel Programme is to be undertaken to assess the programmes contribution to progress against the 2030 national targets on transport emissions reduction and increase in walking and cycling journeys. [58399/26]

560. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport on the contribution of the Active Travel Programme to progress against the 2030 national targets on transport emissions reduction. [58400/26]

561. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport on the contribution of the Active Travel Programme to measurable increases in walking and cycling journeys. [58401/26]

565. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if a formal review of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme is to be undertaken to assess the programmes contribution to progress against the 2030 national targets on transport emissions reduction and increase in walking and cycling journeys. [58405/26]

566. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the contribution of the Safe Routes to School Programme to progress against the 2030 national targets on transport emissions reduction. [58406/26]

567. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the contribution of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme to measurable increases in walking and cycling journeys. [58407/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 559, 560, 561, 565, 566 and 567 together.

The transport sector is required to pursue a decarbonisation pathway to achieve a c.50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 (relative to 2018 levels) in a manner that is consistent with sectoral emission ceilings that were agreed by Government in August 2022. Despite continued economic and population growth, transport emissions have started to decline year-on-year.

With regards to active travel, including the Safe Routes to School Programme, the Government has allocated funding to ensure all parts of the country – not just the five cities – benefit from improved active travel infrastructure. Since the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2021, my Department has invested over €1 billion in active travel projects through the National Transport Authority’s (NTA’s) Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme and Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s (TII’s) National Greenways Programme. In 2026 approximately €290 million has been allocated to the NTA for active travel projects around the country. In general, the main focus of active travel investment is to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips in villages, towns and cities with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel.

In addition to environmental benefits, the economic impact of active travel across the five metropolitan areas is estimated at over €3 billion annually, alongside major and important improvements in public health and air quality.

Walking, wheeling, and cycling in our metropolitan areas removes approximately 680,000 car trips every day, reducing congestion and meaningfully cutting emissions. In 2023 alone, active travel saved an estimated 160,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 2.2 million passenger trips from Dublin to London Heathrow.

In Dublin alone, I am delighted to say that every day those commuters who walk, wheel or cycle are taking nearly 530,000 cars off the road in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. These practices are saving approximately 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Ireland’s shared mobility schemes are also performing well and offer enormous potential for emissions reduction long-term as services expand. The Government’s new National Policy Statement on Shared Mobility is supporting such expansion through public bike sharing schemes and other shared mobility initiatives.

Each year, the NTA also publishes an Annual Report which reflects on key achievements and ongoing progress of the Safe Routes to School Programme. The recently published 2025 Report shows that on the completion of works, schools have increase of 48.9% in cycling, 15.8% in public transport, 7.9% in walking and a 10.3% decrease in car use. Thus contributing to improved modal shift and embedding positive travel behaviours in our future generations.