Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans in relation to the reduction of carbon emissions from the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3873/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A number of measures relating to transport are included in the climate change strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include rebalancing of motor taxes, mineral oil tax relief for biofuels, a modal shift through Transport 21 and the achievement of a 5.75% biofuels blend in fuels by 2010. In all, the transport sector will provide up to 13% in total national emission savings under that strategy. Further details of the strategy are available on the website of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at www.environ.ie.

Meanwhile, the Government is committed to delivering a sustainable travel and transport action plan this year and I hope to initiate an intensive public consultation process on the issues in the near future. The question of emissions reduction for transport will be explored in more detail during that process.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Since 1990, when we first began talking about Kyoto, transport emissions have increased 165%, which is a massive growth. I know we have experienced economic growth in that time but cars and heavy duty vehicles are the biggest offenders in this regard. In 2006, the last year for which we have statistics, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 682,000 tonnes over the 2005 figure. The Minister's climate change strategy, which was proposed by the Green Party as the greatest thing since the sliced pan, will save 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. While I welcome that saving, it represents only one thirteenth of the reduction we need to achieve.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct in stating that greenhouse gas emissions from transport increased 165%, from just over 5.17 megatonnes in 2005 to 13.72 megatonne equivalents in 2006. As the Deputy rightly said also, however, those figures are a consequence of our economic success. So many people are now staying in Ireland, whereas when I started out in politics people were emigrating. We have experienced huge growth in the economy and as a result, rather than barely having one car, people now have two or three cars per household. All these factors of our economic prosperity have given rise to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government is aware that if we continue at the current rate we could be 265% above the 1990 emissions. Everyone in this House has bought into cutting those emission rates. The sustainable transport and travel plan to which I referred is designed to examine those matters. In the discussion document, we have tried to outline frankly and fully where we are going as regards transport sector emissions. It is not a pretty sight from the viewpoint of health and quality of life, particularly for city dwellers. Measures will have to be taken and some of them will not be palatable for everyone but those issues must be faced and I look forward to having the Deputy's support in doing so.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The most important thing the Government could do would be to introduce the Dublin transport authority Bill. Because we do not have that legislation there are turf wars between Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Procurement Agency, while commuters suffer. The Minister is right in saying that people are buying cars due to modern economic wealth but public transport has not kept pace with demand. The key issue is that we do not have effective public transport initiatives or adequate park-and-ride facilities, while the Luas and metro projects are hit by delays. Most of all, no one is in charge. The Minister has refused to accept responsibility for Dublin's traffic chaos. One of my questions was refused today because the Minister said it was a matter for somebody else. It is a matter for the Minister, however, but he is not dealing with it. That is why our transport emissions are so high and why people are queuing up in cars. The Minister has no regard for the 100,000 motorists who are stuck on the M50, that wonderful parking lot, every day. He refused to intervene to get a proper plan to deal with public transport, getting cars off the road and reducing emissions.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It never fails to amaze me how powerful Deputy O'Dowd thinks I should be in this job.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is a question of how weak the Minister is.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The DTA will not stop people buying cars.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It plans new routes.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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If economic prosperity continues, people will continue to buy cars. We have a plan in place called Transport 21 and it is being implemented despite what Deputy O'Dowd says. We are moving ahead with all the public transport infrastructure, including metro north and the Luas lines, so progress is being made. However, we cannot just wave magic wands and produce new Luas or metro lines overnight. The Transport 21 programme is a ten-year plan up to 2015, which will provide additional public transport, but it cannot be done overnight. Neither I, Deputy O'Dowd nor anyone else can do anything more about that. Traffic management on national roads is a matter for the NRA, while other roads are dealt with by local authorities. It is not a matter in which I can directly intervene, although through Transport 21 and other policies I try to make it as easy as possible for everybody to implement. No rows have delayed the provision of public transport. The RPA and CIE difficulties have been resolved and the public transport section of Transport 21 is proceeding. It is not going as quickly as I would like but it is still within the timeline.