Minister Wallace welcomes travel and transport action plan

6 February 2009

The Minister of State at the Department of Health & Children with special responsibility for health promotion, Ms Mary Wallace, TD, today welcomed the launch of the Government’s action plan for sustainable travel and transport “Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Travel Future”. The action plan, through measures such as investing in new, safer cycling and walking routes, aims to have thousands of people cycling and walking by 2020. Prioritising investment in cycling and walking is in line with one of the main recommendations of the National Taskforce on Obesity on the construction of safe walkways and cycleways. The Minister of State recently established an intersectoral group, which comprises representatives of all stakeholders, including experts from Government Department and agencies, the food industry, and relevant Non Government Organisations to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity.