Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2014
13. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that the transport sector meets its carbon emissions reduction targets; the number of electric cars currently in use here; the way he intends to implement policies to promote the use of biofuels here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36785/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will know, there is a key distinction in EU policy on emissions between those covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme, which I will refer to as the ETS, and those not covered by the ETS.
Transport, excluding commercial airlines, forms part of the non-ETS sector along with households, energy, and agriculture. In the non-ETS sector, it is the responsibility of each Member State to achieve the allocated reduction in emissions and the overall target for the EU as a whole is a reduction of 10% by 2020, compared to 2005. By comparison, Ireland's commitment is ambitious with a reduction target of 20% in non-ETS emissions by 2020.
This context is important because, as Minister, a key role for me is to ensure that the transport sector is well positioned to make a cost effective contribution towards this 20% target along with agriculture, energy and the built environment.
I am under no illusion about the challenges involved in meeting this target and, to rise to the challenge, the Government is putting in place a low-carbon development strategy to ensure that Ireland can effectively and equitably underpin an effective transition to a low-carbon future by 2050. The Government has developed a Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, which sets out proposed statutory obligations in relation to the development of a National Low Carbon Roadmap, incorporating sectoral roadmaps. The purpose of the road-mapping process will be to set out a pragmatic and holistic approach aimed at pursuing and achieving transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy in the period up to and including 2050. My Department is required to develop a sectoral roadmap for transport and that process is well underway.
In relation to Electric Cars or EVs, my Department fully supports the underlying technology and the potential for EVs to contribute to significant emissions reductions. 644 EVs have been registered between 2010 and the end of August this year. Similarly, biofuels have a significant role to play and will be central to achieving the 10% renewable energy target for transport by 2020. However, in terms of promoting EVs and biofuels, that policy rests with Minister Alex White and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I will be working closely with Minister White to ensure that our sectoral roadmaps are suitably aligned in terms of policy and ambition so that they can be seamlessly drawn together when constructing the overall national low carbon roadmap to 2050. My colleague Minister Alan Kelly and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government expect to go to extensive public consultation on the national low carbon roadmap in 2015.
