Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that reducing emissions from cars and public transport and encouraging people to cycle and walk are significant priorities in the climate change programme we have announced. Alternatives to the private car are very important. As the Deputy will be aware, on a daily basis we are trying to encourage people to move out of their cars. That is why we have set demanding and high targets for the number of electric vehicles. We are seeking to have nearly 1 million electric cars on the road by 2030. Some people have described this target as challenging and others have described it as ambitious. We are determined to tackle this issue in an unprecedented manner. This will be difficult, but we believe it can be achieved. As the Deputy will be aware, we are providing a lot more funding for cycling. We are totally committed to the cycling story. We have bought into it. An unprecedented level of funding is going to cycling. Some €53 million is being provided for greenway cycling routes all over the country. The Dodder greenway and other cycling routes will open this year. We have made a commitment to large public transport projects to take people into public transport and to active travel to get people out of their cars. We will reduce emissions in that way.

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