Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin supports measures taken to encourage the use of vehicles with lower carbon dioxide emissions and has been calling for this for some time, long before the Government decided to act. Nonetheless, any steps in this direction are welcome. Encouraging people to use vehicles with lower emissions is obviously an important aspect of any strategy to reduce overall emission levels. It is also necessary to create initiatives. Any initiative that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions is welcome.

It will be interesting to see whether the tax changes introduced in the budget will have the effect of reducing the sale of bigger cars, which have enjoyed a significant increase in market share in recent years. Over the past ten years, there has been an explosion in the use of higher horse power cars and in the importation of cars with an engine capacity of 1,900 cu. cm. and higher from countries such as Japan and England, thus contributing to increased emissions. On the other hand, there is significant evidence that motorists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of reducing emissions and of their role in this regard. In recent years, this has led to an increase in the market share of new vehicles that produce fewer emissions. These accounted for almost 10% of new sales in 2006, while the second lowest category of vehicles accounted for another 22%. In 2006, 32% of sales were of vehicles with engine capacity of under 1,400 cu. cm. It seems certain, therefore, that tax incentives with lower carbon dioxide emissions will further increase this trend.

Some have argued that tax on lower-emission vehicles should have been frozen and that the shortfall should have been made up by higher taxes on those cars with much higher emission levels. Given the price involved, the disincentive to buying larger vehicles is perhaps not as great as imagined. Freezing the tax on lower-emission vehicles would serve as a great incentive to buy and own such vehicles.

Unfortunately, even the most optimistic projections regarding the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions accept that measures currently designed to reduce vehicle emissions will only make a small contribution to the overall target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland. It is Sinn Féin's belief that the focus on tackling emissions from motor vehicles ought to be more pronounced and that an increase in the use of public transport should be achieved. If there were a better funded and more efficient public transport system, there would not be so strong an incentive for so many people to drive to work and elsewhere in private cars. I refer in particular to rural areas, where public transport is almost gone completely. In many areas, there is none at all and people have no option but to use private vehicles.

There have been some small successes regarding public transport in Dublin and the Luas serves as an example. However, there needs to be a much broader approach if large numbers of people are to be persuaded to leave their cars at home. If this were achieved, there would be far more significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions than would be possible through changing the vehicle taxation regime.

The considerable incentive that exists for improving public transport as part of a strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is evident from the extremely small role public transport plays in generating emissions. In 2006, the sector contributed just 4.1% of the total emissions in the State. This figure decreased from 5.3% in 1990 and this is due to the reduction in rail transport emissions. Emissions from private cars accounted for almost 37% of the total in 2006, although this figure also represented a decrease from that of 1990, mainly due to greater fuel efficiency, even though car ownership and use increased greatly over the same period. The car testing system has been a major contributor to reducing emissions in that it put many deficient, unsafe cars off the road, which cars were contributing significantly to emission levels.

The overall share of emissions produced by the transport sector has risen to 35%. It is as clear as day that an increase in public transport use would have a significant and positive effect on emission levels and, for this reason alone, regardless of any other social benefits, it would be well worth investing more to achieve this.

Many other issues concerning motor vehicles are of concern. Although the initial decision of last year on provisional licence holders was deferred, such that it would come into effect this summer, it will still cause problems for many. While the motivation behind the announcement was undoubtedly to enhance road safety and encourage motorists with provisional licences to improve their driving skills and pass the test rather than be taken off the road as a result of failing it consistently, the longer waiting list has made it difficult for people in this category to pass their tests before June.

The effects of the decision may not be known. It was pointed out at the time of the decision, yet there is still a long waiting list for a driving test due to the failure to provide more testers at testing centres. This will mean many motorists who are genuinely trying to pass their tests will not be able to qualify before the deadline or before their provisional licences expire, and thus they will be put off the road. This will have a serious effect in many parts of the country, particularly more rural areas in which people are highly dependent on cars for transport. This is another argument in favour of improving public transport provision. It would also reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

I must refer to road safety and the considerable carnage on our roads. I believe firmly that driver training should be part of the school curriculum. It is very important that young people learn good habits when they start driving. Low insurance costs for cars with low engine capacities should act as an incentive. If young people learn the rules of driving at a young age, it will carry them forward. I urge the Minister of State and the relevant Departments to consider this.

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