Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
385. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce an offence to idle a car engine unnecessarily when stationary and/or to introduce a public awareness campaign to reduce idling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38700/23]
View answerThank you, Deputy, for asking this important question.
At a national level, as well as responsibility for reducing carbon emissions from the transport sector, my department is responsible for the development of legislation, policy and guidelines on road safety and traffic matters. Policy on air quality rests with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).
As things stand, under current traffic legislation (S.I. No. 190/1963 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles Regulations, 1963, Section 87(a)), it is illegal to leave a vehicle idling while unattended as this would have safety implications.
This Government is acutely aware of the effects that vehicular emissions can have on air quality and public health and notes the role that engine idling can have in this context, particularly while drivers are present in the car - especially in built up settings and in public spaces such as outside schools. As you may be aware, to address and mitigate transport-related air pollution, a broad range of national measures currently exist. These include multi-stakeholder working groups; policy pathways; funding instruments and supports for the uptake of low-emitting electric vehicles; a NOx tax component of the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) to discourage the purchase of more polluting older diesel vehicles; technological assessments; the promotion and adoption of improved vehicle emission standards, and clean vehicle procurement policies.
In relation to awareness campaigns around engine idling, many schools have delivered such campaigns at a local level under the Green Schools Programme, which is supported by a number of Government Departments, including the Department of Transport. A resource pack to assist schools in running such campaigns is available at greenschoolsireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Green-Schools-No-Idling-Toolkit-for-Schools.pdf
Finally, the issue of emissions from private cars and commercial vehicles is also being examined in the formulation of new policies and measures aimed at protecting air quality. While an outright ban on engine idling may be one option, it would be important to consider the enforceability of such a ban, and the legislative support required. This department will continue to work with the DECC and other key stakeholders to bring about the most effective solutions in relation to traffic-related air pollution through the structures set out in the new Clean Air Strategy, which was published by DECC in April 2023.
