Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I will try to stay away from rugby internationals because we covered that when he was previously in the House.

It is expected by 2020 that there will be an additional 2.1 million more tonnes of CO2 produced in Ireland if current trends continues. That is an increase in the range of 13% to 19%. What is the plan to deal with this?

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten has already come to the House, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will come to the House to deal with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. When will the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport comply with section 14 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 because his Department has not given the House a date as to when it will comply in spite of the fact that other Ministers already comply with the Act?

The proposed DART underground is a key infrastructure for Dublin. Deputy Ross has already mentioned that the M50 is becoming gridlocked for most of the day. This infrastructure is badly needed. At present we are looking at 2022, as the best estimate before we will see a sod turned or a hole dug. In the meantime, the Minister must keep his eyes on what is happening in and around the city.

Some months ago I highlighted a planning application on the site for the proposed station on Pearse Street. To date, I have received no reply. That planning application is still live and if it is granted planning permission, it will prevent a station being built and puts a very large question mark over the integration of the DART underground with Pearse station. What is the Minister's position on that?

It is welcome that Dublin Bus has engaged with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, but should the Minister intend to throw anybody under a bus today, he would need to ensure the buses are still running. I know he is meeting the Taoiseach later on.

I welcome the investment in additional buses for the Dublin region. May I ask precisely how many of the buses are energy efficient and low emissions? How many buses will be operated by electricity or other new technologies?

Only 1% of the Department's budget is allocated for cycling infrastructure. When I was a member of the Dublin City Council I was fortunate enough to work with Andrew Montague on the Dublin Bikes scheme to get it up and running. It has been extremely successful. We need further investment in the Dublin bike scheme to connect the urban villages, that would make a significantly positive impact on the transport infrastructure. Dublin Bikes is part of the public transport infrastructure for the city and need to be developed and rolled out. Has the Minister plans for Dublin Bikes?

The 9% VAT on tourist industry was introduced at a time of great recession and financial crisis, where the Government of the day, of which I was a member, made a decision to invest and encourage the tourist industry. There is no free ride. The reduction in the VAT is worth approximately €300 million in tax forgone every year, money that could be invested in other areas.In the urban centres, particularly in Dublin and Galway, I would say we have seen such a rise in the cost of hotel bedrooms and in the ever-increasing cost of meals and services in hotels that it is exploitation. I call on the Minister to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. The reduction of VAT to 9% was introduced as a short-term measure, which has been retained and now is a permanent fixture. I think there is possibility of investing the more than €300 million in tax forgone in other areas of the economy, where we can stimulate growth. At the very least the terms and conditions of those employed in the industry should be of the highest quality, considering the subsidy the taxpayer is giving the sector.

Real time display for buses, DART, Luas and trains has been very successful in encouraging people on to public transport. Does the Minister intend to invest further in it? Will he outline his investment in this?

Has research been conducted on traffic levels with a view to introducing congestion tolling in cities? Is that part of the Minister's plan for the future? The Rock Road has reached capacity and if one is sitting in a traffic jam, one has to consider whether one is part of the problem. Is congestion tolling part of our future? I have an open mind and that is the reason I believe we must conduct research rather than reaching a rushed decision on investment in public transport, cycling and pedestrians. We have to consider whether congestion tolling should be part of our traffic management plan for Dublin. Is the Minister carrying out any research in that area?

There is no doubt that the Minister has one of the most challenging briefs. That is the reason I urge him to concentrate on transport because we have seen very few initiatives or various projects.

There is a proposed flyover across the DART line with the closure of the Merrion Road level crossing along the Sandymount to Blackrock corridor. We have seen no real thought out proposal. There is a rough and questionable figure of €26 million for a flyover, whereas if we want to see the Minister's proposed ten minute interval DART operating as quickly as possible, we will have to invest in signalling. That has been set aside. That would involve upgrading the signalling at Lansdowne Road, Sandymount and Sidney Parade. The impact that would have on local residents for the duration of the stations' closure would be quite severe and would be quite a disturbance in their daily lives.

The Minister is nearly a year in office as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Now is the time we should start to see real plans for climate change, reducing emissions in transport and proper integrated public transport for the greater Dublin area.