June 2008 – Green School Travel Module receives support says Brady.

Deputy Aine Brady, Convenor of the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee has been informed today by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD, that his Department is pledging €2m per annum upto 2012 for An Taisce's Green School Travel Module to encourage sustainable modes of transport for children.

‘Earlier this year, I met with John Henry, CEO, Dublin Transport Office, who have spearheaded the One Small Step Campaign, and I have supported their efforts to increase the awareness of the ‘Green-School Travel Module.'

‘Currently 20,000 pupils, including some from Kildare, in the Greater Dublin Area, participate in the Green-School Travel Module. It is planned that this will reach 265,000 pupils by 2012.'

‘The decision to expand support for the Green-Schools Module comes on foot of impressive results achieved under a 2007 pilot scheme overseen by the Dublin Transportation Office, which has seen a reduction of car usage of 10%.'

‘Educating young people that there are alternatives to the car for school travel - for example, walking (even some of the way) and cycling - will open their minds for the rest of their lives to the possibilities offered by alternative travel options.' stated Deputy Brady who outlined that many schools in Kildare now operate the ‘Walk on Wednesday' or ‘Park and Stride' to promote walking to school.

‘As part of the programme Cycle Training will be delivered to Schools. We must also consider our footpath and cycling infrastructure, the weight of school bags and traffic calming measures to encourage more walking and cycling to schools.' Concluded Deputy Brady who pledged to continue working to have these facilities put in place.

Other information

www.dto.ie , www.onesmallstep.ie  - http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/

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