Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 3

Written Answers - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Joe Higgins

Question:

82 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, his Department has for legislation to require local authorities to produce local greenhouse gas inventories, as well as strategies to combat greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, as is the case in the United Kingdom. [6036/98]

Joe Higgins

Question:

83 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the methodology being developed by his Department or the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate greenhouse gas emissions in detail for each economic sector and for each local authority. [6037/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.

I do not propose to introduce legislation requiring local authorities to produce local greenhouse gas inventories.

As part of its commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), Ireland submits annual national greenhouse gas inventories to the FCCC Secretariat. These are prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, in accordance with the standard guidelines approved under the Convention which require that greenhouse gas emissions and removals are calculated on a national basis according to specified categories. National greenhouse gas inventories for the years 1990-1994 and 1995 (provisional), which were prepared in accordance with these guidelines, are contained in Ireland's Second National Communication under the UN FCCC, a copy of which was made available to the Oireachtas Library.

As far as the transport sector is concerned, the national communication refers to measures being taken to improve the efficiency of the road and rail networks, promote public transport and other alternatives to the private car in major urban areas (including Dublin), and reduce the age profile and increase the fuel efficiency of private cars. It also discusses the DTI Strategy for Dublin which, when fully implemented, will secure a significant shift towards the use of public transport in the area.

A consultancy study, commissioned jointly by the Departments of the Environment and Local Government and Public Enterprise, to identify and evaluate the scope for intensifying existing, and developing additional, policies and measures to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions is expected to be completed shortly.