Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 15, inclusive, together. There is no dedicated Cabinet committee dealing with transport; rather transport-related matters are discussed in a number of Cabinet committees as appropriate. This occurs most usually at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment which last met on 30 September and is due to meet on 22 November and at the Cabinet Committee on the Environment and Climate Change which last met on 3 November. Issues relevant to the transport sector can arise at other Cabinet committees such as the Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland and Brexit and as with all policy areas, they are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings where all formal decisions are made.

In addition to meetings of the Cabinet and Cabinet committees, I regularly meet Ministers, including the Minister for Transport, to discuss particular issues. As outlined in the NDP, the Government is clear in its commitment to deliver quality transport infrastructure and services in a way that is sustainable. As set out in the Climate Action Plan, which we published last week, we have to take definitive action now to reduce our emissions. The transport sector must play a central role in this and we are working to significantly reduce transport emissions by 2030. We will achieve this through investment in transforming and decarbonising our public transport services, in accelerating the pace of electric vehicle take-up, and in improving our walking and cycling infrastructures. Specifically, budget 2022 allocates €3.4 billion for transport, of which €1.8 billion is supporting sustainable transport. In this way we are ensuring we continue to improve our transport infrastructure to meet people's needs, address the objectives of compact, sustainable growth and regional connectivity and meet our climate and environmental targets.

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