Mr. Hugh Creegan:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and committee for the invitation to appear today. I understand the committee wishes to explore barriers that may prevent Ireland from meeting its 2026 to 2030 climate change targets. To assist me in dealing with questions that may arise during the session, I am joined by Mr. Eoin Gillard, assistant director of transport investment.

As the committee will be aware, transport emissions accounted for 19.5% of total national greenhouse gas emissions at the end of 2023. The sectoral emissions reduction target set by the Government is for transport emissions to be reduced by 50% by 2030 compared with a 2018 emissions baseline. By the end of 2023, transport emissions had reduced by 4.2% from the 2018 figure. This leaves a challenging reduction to be achieved over the 2023 to 2030 period.

Within the direct remit of the NTA, other than our regulatory functions, all of our activities are focused on the provision of sustainable transport infrastructure and services. In relation to services, public transport use continues to grow at exceptional levels. Overall, passenger numbers on State-provided bus and rail services in 2024 were 32 million higher compared with 2023, an increase of 10.6%. Unlike many other international jurisdictions, overall public transport passenger numbers in Ireland now significantly exceed the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, with 344 million passengers carried on State-provided services in the previous year, compared with 295 million in 2019.

Public transport infrastructure is being developed, with construction now starting on the first BusConnects Dublin corridor and a construction contract for the second corridor expected to be signed later this month. Three of the DART+ projects have received planning consent as has the MetroLink project in the previous week. These projects are now available to proceed to construction.

The Cork commuter rail programme is under construction. Bus depots are being electrified and urban buses are transitioning to electric vehicles. A major programme of development of active travel projects, being cycling and walking projects, is under way, with approximately 800 projects at various stages of development across the country.

Focusing solely on the NTA’s activities, some of the challenges that we see to achieving the targeted level of emissions reduction by 2030 include the need to reduce the level of car use, the need for increased funding both to build infrastructure and provide services, lengthy delivery times for infrastructure projects, the need for increased levels of electrification across transport, resource availability in a near-full employment environment, and public acceptance and buy-in to change.

This concludes my opening remarks and I welcome any questions that members of the committee may have.