Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
953. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of underspend in the carbon reduction programme, B6, in his Department in 2018; the causes for the underspend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/19]
View answer954. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects and programmes which will be supported by the €7 million carbon reduction programme in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1624/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 953 and 954 together.
Transport has a critical yet challenging role to play in the national carbon reduction effort. It is a sector where fossil fuel use is firmly embedded and travel demand is growing significantly due to our economic recovery and growing population. Despite this demand growth, 2017 saw a very welcome fall in transport emissions for the first time in four years. Nevertheless, emission savings from technological advancements in improving vehicle efficiencies and new lower carbon fuels are being offset by strong growth in transport demand. Funding under the Carbon Reduction Programme has an important role to play in this mitigation effort, but it is only one element of a wider range of transport measures that are currently underway, including: developing a range of incentives to encourage a transition away from conventional fuels towards lower emitting alternatives, such as EVs; increasing the proportion of biofuels in fuel mix; improving efficiency standards for all EU vehicles; and of course the significantly enhanced funding I am making available to support the development of new and improved public and sustainable transport infrastructure.
The National Development Plan outlines the €8.6 billion that will be invested in a range of projects such as:
- Maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network;
- Improving PSO bus services and bus infrastructure in all major cities as part of the BusConnects programme;
- Electrifying the GDA commuter rail network and expanding services through the DART Expansion programme;
- Development of a new 26 kilometre metro service in Dublin under the MetroLink project;
- Enhanced LocalLink services in more rural areas; and
- An unprecedented level of investment in cycling and walking infrastructure across the State.
The investment planned under these various programmes will collectively enhance sustainable transport options for citizens across the State and encourage modal shift away from the private car. In 2018 alone approximately 19 million more journeys were taken on PSO-funded Public Transport nationally than in 2017, a rise of 7.5%. The Canal Cordon Count shows that the proportion of commuters who use public transport, cycling or walking to come into Dublin City during peak times has risen to approximately 70% (up from 59% in 2010). Modal shift is gathering momentum and the trend away from private car use is playing a key role in our mitigation response.
The Carbon Reduction Programme budget is intended for measures that are new, innovative and often associated with emerging technologies and research. Because such projects tend to take more time to develop, establish and gain acceptance, the programme used only €697,300 in 2018 as:
- Production delays deferred the delivery of nine hybrid buses until 2019;
- Procurement delays in facilitating a small scale pilot programme for alternatively fuelled rural buses. These costs will now arise in 2019 instead;
- Assessment of vehicle suitability by taxi drivers and the NTA meant that, as is often the case with the introduction of new grants, the Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) grant payment rate early in the year was slow; however, the application rate increased as 2018 progressed and this improvement is expected to continue into 2019 as the Scheme becomes established in the sector; and finally
- For the EV Reduced Tolling Scheme cost drawdown only arises for four months of operation. Scheme invoices for November and December will not arise for payment until Q1 2019.
Considering the increased take-up and spend on the various schemes and projects in the later months of 2018, I expect a higher spend from the Carbon Reduction Programme in 2019 and I was delighted to be able to allocate €7 million in 2019 which will support five key areas:
1. Low Emission Bus Trials: The National Development Plan committed that from July 2019, no more diesel-only buses would be purchased for the urban bus fleet. In late 2018, my Department, together with the National Transport Authority and key urban operators, launched a comprehensive set of bus trials with the objective of helping to further inform purchasing decisions for new buses over the coming years. The fuels and technologies to be tested include full electric, diesel-electric hybrids, hydrogen and compressed natural gas. The trials will assess CO2 emissions, impacts on air quality and the contribution potential towards sectoral renewable energy targets, as well as costs, vehicle availability and operational/infrastructural requirements. The trials are ongoing in Dublin and Cork, and it is expected that they will end in April 2019.
2. Electric Vehicle Reduced Tolling Scheme: The Electric Vehicle Reduced Tolling Scheme, launched in July 2018, allows drivers of EVs to apply for a discount in toll fares. Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are eligible for a 50% toll discount and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are eligible for a 25% discount up to a maximum value of €500, with higher levels of discount available across certain toll roads during off-peak journeys.
3. Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) Grant Scheme: The Electric SPSV Grant Scheme was launched in April 2018 and supports drivers in the taxi, hackney and limousine sector who wish to transition to an electric vehicle. Under this scheme, up to €7,000 or €3,500 towards the purchase of a BEV or PHEV respectively can be granted to a successful applicant.
4. Cost differential for purchasing low-emission vehicles for the public transport sector: Funding under the Carbon Reduction Programme is also available to support projects undertaken by PSO operators to support the transition towards deployment of low carbon technologies in public transport. It may be used to cover the price differential between a conventionally fuelled vehicle and an alternatively fuelled vehicle.
5. Research: Mitigation measures for transport emissions are constantly under review in a rapidly developing and technologically evolving sector, and new and innovative measures are always being considered. In support of evidence building DTTAS co-funds transport and climate research, with four projects currently underway (three with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and one with the Environmental Protection Agency) examining subjects such as behavioural change and the decarbonisation of the freight sector.
