Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We need to take out Covid because it distorts the figures. One of the reasons there was a large percentage increase last year is that it was coming up from a Covid base. If one looks from 2019 to 2023, however, although there was significant population growth and, similarly, the economy grew by 15% or 20% or something in that region, there were approximately 45 billion km driven in 2019 and the figure for 2023 was roughly similar. We have stopped the growth. We have decoupled some of the growth in kilometres. Now, as the Deputy stated, we need to reduce it by 20%. The question is how to do that. Some of the modelling that was done in the climate plan stated that to try to achieve that with tax measures might require something like a 600% increase in tax rates on travel and transport. I do not think we will introduce a 600% increase in tax rates. I do not think anyone in the Dáil would be supportive of that. We have to look at alternatives. That is not to say we will not have to reconfigure our road tax system down the line. If it is all on excise on fuel and that disappears, which it will as people switch to EVs, we will need to have an alternative funding model. Transport provides approximately 6% of the tax base. Some sort of switch will be needed in that regard. I do not believe that we can price people off the road, however. That would not be socially just and it would not be effective. As there is such inelasticity in transport, it would not work. What are the mechanisms?

Let us take the example of Tallaght in Dublin 24, which is the location of one of the pathfinder projects. I would be interested to hear the views of the Deputy on this issue.

Some people say that they do not like the fact that we have taken road space in order to make it safer to cycle. The turning curve is much tighter now, and people have to reduce speed. That does not reflect those big roads, like American highways, were designed whereby there was an assumption that people drive at 50 mph. That is the first change. You make it safe for people to do the alternative. That is politically difficult, however, because some people vote against it and do not want it. I am of the view that we should do it more.

On demand management, the report is due to go to Government in the next two to three weeks. Parking policy is another element of that. It is not that you just price people out of the road but, going back to what Deputy Bruton said earlier, it is about switching to car sharing and so on. If each car is parked 95% of the time, if you switch to a car-sharing model where one car is on the road most of the time, there is a dramatic reduction in the amount of car parking you have to provide. That is another example. The report is 240 or 250 pages long. It was compiled on foot of a process of deep engagement with stakeholders. It has been through various working groups. We are working with trade unions, employers, retail industry associations and so on. When that is published, it will give more detail and examples. There is no silver bullet. It is a philosophical change as much as anything else. This not anti-car, it just that if everyone is in a car, it does not work for anyone. Creating better alternatives does work for everyone.