Suburban semi-detached homes are to blame for Ireland’s overreliance on driving to work and social events, Ciara Kelly has argued. 

Today, the Climate and Health Alliance has launched a new report Active Travel: The Magic Pill, which urges people to walk and cycle more. 

The organisation believes this would deliver a “deliver a range of health and environmental benefits for everyone in Ireland”. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Seán Defoe noted the link between exercise, health and lower carbon emissions is well established. 

 “Active travel - great - if you can do it,” he said. 

“But it’s a total postcode lottery; if you’re working in Dublin and you’re on your commute at the moment, you’re living in Naas or even further out - well and good talking about it. 

“There’s no practical way for you to do it.” 

Cyclists and cars in Dublin. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie. 

Co-presenter Ciara disagreed and said the way Irish homes have been built over the years is not a lottery but “by design”. 

“They didn’t increase density in the 90s in Dublin, they didn’t increase density in the 00s,” she explained. 

“Urban sprawl was the Government policy; they [favoured] your three bed, four bed semi-d, front and back garden. 

“We went out into the suburbs, then we went out beyond the suburbs and now people are, listening in their cars this morning, commuting from Gorey, commuting from Tullamore, commuting from Portlaoise.” 

Cyclists with heavy traffic heading down the North Quays at Batchelor's Walk in Dublin. Picture by: Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie. 

Ciara added that the Government should “grasped the theory nettle” of planning reform years ago and incentivised denser developments. 

“I like that they’re saying, I like the idea of active travel, I like the idea of people exercising for health,” she said. 

“But I always feel we’re being accused of not as individuals when nothing was done to support individuals doing this.” 

Main image: Ciara Kelly in the Newstalk studio. Image: Newstalk