Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2016
72. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure Ireland complies with European Transport 2050 targets to reduce emissions, including in particular, the target to move 30% of freight transport to the rail networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38763/16]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the 2011 EU Commission White Paper 'Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area', which included a target that 30% of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or water-borne transport by 2030. This would be an overall target for the Union, rather than individual Member States, and of limited relevance in Ireland as few trips here are over 300 km. In any case, European Commission White Papers are documents containing proposals for action. While not binding, their purpose is to launch a debate on the most viable options.
The Paris COP21 Agreement of December 2015 underpins global initiatives towards emissions reductions. In October 2014, the European Council agreed to reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 emission levels. In order for Ireland to effectively and equitably contribute to the EU emissions reduction commitments, an ambitious low-carbon development strategy, the National Mitigation Plan, is currently being developed.
The Plan will reflect the overall aims of the National Policy Position on climate action and low carbon development published in April 2014, which envisages that its development will be guided by a long-term vision of transition to a low carbon economy. The responsibility for emissions reduction is, of course, a collective one and Ireland's EU emission reduction targets are national and not sectorial in nature.
Transport will of course have to play a significant role in the national mitigation effort. The measures under consideration for transport are wide-ranging. They focus on encouraging modal shift from private to public transport, movement to alternative fuels and targeted measures aimed at promoting improved technologies such as the rebalancing of Vehicle Registration Tax and Motor Taxation in favour of cleaner-fuelled vehicles.
These measures can apply to freight (including rail freight) as much as to passenger movement. While the proportion of freight in Ireland moved by rail is low at present at a little over 1% of the total domestic freight tonnage, there has been some growth in recent years, with a 6% increase of rail freight tonne/kms between 2012 and 2014. The Government's Capital Plan included a commitment to carry out a feasibility study into the potential to grow rail freight.
