Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2017
407. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions, including timeframes, he will take to reduce transport emissions in order that Ireland fulfils its obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order for Ireland to effectively and equitably contribute to the EU emissions reduction commitments in line with the Paris Agreement and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, an ambitious low-carbon development strategy is being developed. My Department is working closely with the new Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and the Department of Agriculture to prepare this National Mitigation Plan.
Specific focus is being placed on the four sectorial areas of electricity generation, the built environment, agriculture and transport. 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. When all sectorial inputs have been co-ordinated, the draft mitigation plan will be available for extensive public consultation before being submitted for approval to Government. It is expected that the draft plan will be available for public consultation in March. Transport will of course have to play a significant role on the national mitigation effort. The measures under consideration for transport will be wide-ranging and will focus on modal shift, movement to alternative fuels, and targeted behavioural change. To date, considerable progress has been achieved through measures aimed at promoting improved technologies and changing behaviour.
My Department has also recently developed a National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport, which will be published in the coming weeks, following our recent public consultation on the draft Framework. Furthermore, my Department is working closely with the DCCAE on an interdepartmental Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) Task Force which is charged with presenting a range of measures and options to the Government that will assist in accelerating the deployment of LEVs in Ireland.
