Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2014
29. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he will ensure that the transport sector meets its carbon emissions reduction targets; the percentage of transport currently fuelled by renewable fuels and non-renewable fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46386/14]
View answerIreland has committed to a very ambitious reduction target of 20% in the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) sector by 2020, the highest in the EU.
My role, as Minister, is to ensure that the transport sector is well positioned to make a cost effective contribution towards this target along with the other sectors in the non-ETS, namely agriculture, energy and the built environment.
The Deputy will be aware of the Government's plan to put 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. Transport is a key element of that strategy. 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. I expect the Bill to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas very shortly.
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 the transport sector contribution to the national roadmap and that process is well underway.
While the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is responsible for policy on renewable energy, I understand that 2.8% of the energy in the transport sector was from renewable sources in 2013. This was achieved mainly through the use of biofuels in road transport, and biofuels amounted to 3.5% of the volume of road transport fuels placed on the market.
