More than 57 per cent of all workers drove to work by car in 2006, up from 55 per cent four years earlier, according to the latest census figures.
More than 57 per cent of workers drove to work by car last year. Image: Frank Miller.
When van and lorry drivers are taken into account, nearly 65 per cent of workers drove to work in 2006, representing an additional 225,000 work-related car users compared with 2002.
The share of public transport by bus fell from 6.7 per cent of those at work in 2002 to 6.1 per cent in 2006, according to data from Census 2006, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
"The number of persons commuting to work by train increased by over 66 per cent compared with 2002, reflecting the introduction of the Luas. This represented an increase in share from 2.1 per cent in 2002 to 2.9 per cent in 2006. The proportion of workers who walked or cycled to work declined between 2002 and 2006," the CSO said.
Just one in four primary school children walked to school, while just over 55 per cent were driven to school by car. Fewer than one in six students used the bus.
In total, the number of primary school children walking to school has dropped from 39.4 per cent in 1991 to 24.3 per cent in 2006. The number being driven to school has risen from 27.7 per cent to 55 per cent in the same period.
For secondary students, the most popular means of transport was the bus. A total of 35.6 per cent, while 31.5 per cent were driven to school.
Among third level students, the main mode of transport was walking (29.6 per cent), reflecting the fact that many third level students live close to the university or college which they attend, the CSO said.
"About one in four took the bus, but the number who drove rose sharply to over 32,000 - an increase of 63 per cent compared with 2002."
The average distance travelled by workers from their homes to their workplaces in 2006 was 15.8 kilometres.