Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

We know that transport continues to be responsible for about one third of Ireland's energy-related CO2 emissions. Road transport accounts for about 65% of that and it is clear that if the Government is to take the issue of climate change seriously, it must prioritise the whole area of transport.

We know the situation at present. We know the level of emissions and the enormous contribution transport makes to greenhouse gas emissions. It surely makes sense to set out targets for the reduction of those emissions in the transport sector. It makes even more sense given the policies the Government has been pursuing for the past ten years. Climate change did not happen overnight. Inexplicably, the Government has followed a policy in the past ten years of encouraging car dependence among people. The level of car dependence is far higher than elsewhere and growing each year. From looking at the budget, we know that there has been a huge overspend on roads compared to investment in public transport.

The Minister now talks belatedly about rebalancing that investment, but we are coming from a situation where there has been little or no investment in public transport. The Government's emphasis has been on encouraging greater car ownership, be that through its unsustainable housing policies or through its lack of investment in public transport. As the Minister responsible for the area that makes the greatest contribution to climate change, what targets has he set for transport in the next five to ten years?

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