Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
128. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to reduce commuting times for students who must travel over county lines to attend third level education. [37635/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Transport is responsible for transport policy and overseeing transport services and infrastructure while transport to each campus is a matter for individual HEIs.
The Department of Transport is in the process of finalising a new transport strategy for the consideration and approval of Government this year. This draft strategy, referred to as ‘Moving Together’, includes a recommendation related to third level education and the promotion of more sustainable commuting through the implementation of climate action strategies and the Green Campus Programme.
Officials from my Department formed part of the Department of Transport’s ‘Generators of Demand - People’ expert subgroup given the tertiary sector’s role in generating transport journeys; thereby inputting directly into the draft National Demand Management Strategy. The implementation of agreed recommendations will commence following Government approval of the strategy.
The development of local area demand management schemes in conjunction with the relevant local authorities aims to provide targeted public transport services, aligned to college/university timetables, with support for alternative travel methods to and from college through provision of cycle ways and bike to college schemes.
Under the Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-2025 public bodies are tasked with encouraging the use of sustainable transport modes and acquiring the NTA’s Smarter Travel Mark to demonstrate robust communications, policies, facilities, incentives and supports in favor of sustainable commuting.
As part of regular Departmental stakeholder engagement with the tertiary sector in 2024, regional transport coordinators were brought together with estates managers to highlight the student transport and travel agenda. My Department continues to support the Department of Transport to develop a better understanding of travel patterns in order to identify sustainable mobility gaps for our students.
A new Technological Sector Pilot programme will be developed under the Department’s revised student accommodation strategy. The Department’s vision is that all higher education providers will undertake a role in terms of supporting students with supply of accommodation and access to sustainable transport. The pilot programme aims to improve on the provision of sustainable travel options to supplement student accommodation at Technological Sector campuses, by engaging with local and national transport providers to provide targeted services aligned to HEI timetables.
