Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this motion from my Fine Gael colleagues and thank them for the work they have put into it. Many of the actions called for in the motion reflect the Government's existing and planned projects and policies for public transport, and I can confirm that the Government supports the motion, as proposed. I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the House on current developments on public transport, especially in light of the forthcoming sustainable mobility policy framework and the revised climate action plan 2021, which will be launched tomorrow.

The Government recognises the importance of expanding public transport options throughout Ireland. We all have our own views on the challenges and opportunities related to public transport. However, I think we can agree on one thing: the need for a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland to reduce our carbon emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Fundamental to that change will be increasing the numbers of people using sustainable modes, not just public transport but also walking and cycling. Transitioning to sustainable modes has the potential not only to cut emissions but also to improve our health, relieve congestion in our cities and boost our quality of life, whether we live in rural or urban Ireland.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits us to a 51% reduction in our overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Currently, the transport sector represents about 18% of Ireland's carbon emissions nationally, with road transport and private car usage accounting for the majority of that. This motion recognises the requirements on the transport sector both to reduce carbon emissions and to expand transport services across the country.

It is important to say that these tasks are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Active travel and public transport are not only the most environmentally friendly options but also the most efficient, socially inclusive and economically accessible. By focusing on their improvement and expansion, we can achieve our climate goals and cater for the projected population growth set out in Project Ireland 2040. I wish to inform the House about the forthcoming sustainable mobility policy framework which the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, aims to publish before the end of this year. This will set out a strategic framework for walking, cycling and public transport to support Ireland's overall requirement to achieve a 51% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of this decade. The framework will focus primarily on measures to promote and facilitate active travel and public transport for all and, in so doing, will encourage less private car use nationally to support our climate commitment. The climate action plan 2021, which has a broader focus, will set out additional measures to promote other complementary transport mitigation measures such as incentivising the switch to electric cars and fostering greater use of renewable fuels.

The target of the new sustainable mobility policy framework will be to cater for daily travel needs in a more sustainable manner and to deliver an additional 500,000 daily active travel and public transport journeys by 2030. We intend to accomplish this by making sustainable modes the smartest and most attractive choice. The new framework will replace the existing policy framework known as Smarter Travel, which was published in 2009.

The Department has undertaken a collaborative approach in developing the sustainable mobility policy framework through public consultation and extensive stakeholder engagement. It will set out a comprehensive set of actions to increase active travel infrastructure provision and improve public transport capacity and services across the country. These will be supported by behavioural change and demand management measures to make sustainable modes the preferred choice for as many people as possible. The policy framework will also include measures to promote smart and integrated mobility through investment in innovative technologies.

It important to say that we recognise that there are different issues and solutions across the country to the transport challenges we all know exist. Transport needs are not uniform across our country, and we recognise that tailored solutions will be needed for both urban and rural areas. Senators have alluded to that this evening.

The new policy framework will be underpinned by funding under the renewed national development plan, which provides €35 billion for transport over the next decade. This is the largest investment in transport in the history of the State. It will support the commencement of the major public transport projects of BusConnects for our five cities, DART+ and MetroLink in Dublin and increased investment in our inter-urban and regional rail network. This will be complemented by expanded public transport services as supported by the public service obligation programme.

The Government is dedicated to improving and expanding our active travel and greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in our cities, towns, villages and rural areas. Our aim is to promote active travel use for short, local journeys. This will be supported by a significant increase in funding for walking and cycling, with €3.6 billion allocated over the next ten years. In 2021 alone, roughly €204 million has been allocated to the provision of dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure across the country, including the safe routes to school programme.This programme, which is recognised by the motion, will support safer environments around schools to encourage our young people to opt for active travel modes when travelling to and from school. It has been a great success, with 170 schools to receive funding under its first round, and another 762 schools entering the programme on a rolling basis.

Our commitments to improve and expand public transport projects will work towards reducing car dependency. BusConnects will be rolled out across all five cities. It will overhaul the current bus system in the cities by implementing a network of next-generation bus corridors, which includes segregated cycling facilities, on the busiest routes. This will make journeys faster, predictable, and reliable. BusConnects will massively expand access to public transport and radically improve cycling infrastructure. The Government does not accept the proposed amendment to the motion to conduct a review of BusConnects in Dublin to measure current and projected future travel demand in light of increased working from home practices.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the way we travel. In some respects, it could even be argued that it has had a positive effect. Working from home initiatives reduce congestion and help lower transport emissions. That said it is important to remember that the CSO's national travel survey has previously underlined how we tend to put too much emphasis on commuting. Although it is important, it accounts for less than 25% of all trips. We also need buses to undertake a wide range of daily activities. If we are going to support citizens' travel needs across the day in the major cities, we need public transport projects like BusConnects that offer affordable, frequent and high-quality services throughout the day and across the city-regions.

In Dublin, DART+ and MetroLink will complement BusConnects as part of an integrated public transport system and facilitate compact, transport-led development at key locations. The preliminary business cases for MetroLink, BusConnects and DART+ were submitted to the Department for review earlier this year and the Minister for Transport expects to bring all three to Government for approval in line with the requirements set out in the public spending code.

I note the proposed amendments to the motion relating to MetroLink, which the Government does not accept. Significant work has been undertaken on finalising the preliminary design for MetroLink, completing the required environmental impact assessment reports and closing out property referencing issues. This work is critical to ensuring that MetroLink is in line with both the public spending code and the common appraisal framework.

There has also been broad engagement with citizens and stakeholders over the past few years through extensive public consultation processes. There is no lack of commitment to delivering MetroLink, but it is essential that we allocate the necessary time and expense to ensure that the project meets the needs of our citizens in terms of effective design. It is important that we learn from the lessons of large-scale capital investment projects in other sectors so that the public finances are not put at risk. When talking about the potential for a MetroLink southern route, it is important to distinguish between the MetroLink project and the statutory review of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. These two different processes are currently under way, and both relate to the potential future development of metro in Dublin.

First, the preliminary business case for MetroLink is currently under review by the Department. The public spending code requires a Government decision for major projects such as MetroLink. The Minister expects to bring the business case to Government in the near future, and if approved, that will allow MetroLink to move into the statutory planning system.

Second, we have the statutory review of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. The NTA has stated that as part of this review, it is considering whether additional metro routes, above and beyond MetroLink, should be included in any revised strategy. The revised strategy will be published by the NTA shortly for public consultation, and I have no doubt Senators will have their views as to what it proposes out to 2042. I emphasise that the inclusion of projects in any revised strategy is the only first step in what is a detailed, and often lengthy, process. It takes time for projects to move from the strategic support enabled by inclusion in a transport strategy, to being a project with a preliminary business case seeking approval to enter the statutory planning process, not alone a project in construction.

As reflected in the motion, improved public transport cannot just be about cities. The sustainable mobility policy framework will also support enhanced rural and regional public transport. Increased investment in the interurban and regional network will improve journey times, enhance reliability and maintain safety across the network. The delivery of the NTA's Connecting Ireland plan in the coming years will significantly improve mobility in rural areas by improving the existing bus networks, adding new bus services and enhancing the current demand responsive transport network. Senators will be aware that the NTA launched a public consultation process on the Connecting Ireland plan last week. Alongside improved and expanded services, an enhanced bus stop programme for rural and regional areas will also be delivered. Improved and more comfortable transport options will support passenger journeys to and from rural communities, creating opportunities for balanced economic growth and stronger regional development.

On rail, the strategic rail review will examine all aspects of interurban and interregional rail on the island of Ireland, and will examine how to improve regional rail connectivity. Work has commenced on this review and it will provide a strategy for the development of the railway sector over the coming decades. As well as enhancing regional accessibility and supporting balanced regional development, it will consider the potential for high-speed rail links between the major cities. It will also consider the potential scope for improved rail services and infrastructure along the various existing, or future potential, corridors of the network, including the western rail corridor. I also note that the issue of a rail connection to Navan, as referenced in the motion, is being re-examined as part of the NTA's ongoing statutory review of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. The motion recognises the budget measure to introduce a youth travel card to allow young adults between the ages of 19 and 23 to avail of a 50% discount across all public transport services. Alongside this, a new fares strategy will be developed and implemented under the sustainable mobility policy framework to ensure an equitable fares system for all applicable subsidised services.

The Government does not accept the proposed amendment to the motion to establish a dedicated transport policing unit on the public transport network. The safety and security of passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with antisocial behaviour, are matters, first and foremost, for individual public transport companies and An Garda Síochána. For example, I would like to highlight the approach of larnród Éireann. It has been working extensively with An Garda Síochána, its employees and trade unions, and its private security personnel to ensure they both proactively put in place measures to address antisocial behaviour and respond to specific incidents. The gardaí are the best advisers on these issues because they have a critical role in policing public order. While some argue for a separate transport policing unit, that runs the risk of undermining the work they carry out. I believe we should instead double down on existing policing strategies.

Finally, the Government recognises that private car use will always be a feature of the overall transport system. However, we need to ensure that we reduce fossil fuelled kilometres in the short and medium term, and ultimately, transition the private car fleet to zero emissions. Regarding the proposed amendments to the motion on carbon tax, we certainly agree that the role of carbon tax is for carbon pricing to better reflect the social and environmental cost of carbon emissions. The Government also agrees with the EU Council's conclusions that call for "a global phase-out of harmful fossil-fuel subsidies", with which I have no doubt Senators Higgins and Moynihan also agree and, therefore, the spirit of what the Senators propose is, I believe, reflected in Government's actions in this space. However, the specific wording of the proposed amendment, which goes onto state that the role of carbon pricing is to also reduce public subsidisation of the fossil fuel industry, is technically problematic, as that is not the role of carbon pricing. We can certainly agree on the need to phase out harmful fossil fuel subsidies and it is unfortunate that due to pressures of time we were unable to work with the Senators on the proposed amendment to arrive at a mutually agreeable one. However, as currently worded, I am afraid I cannot accept the amendment.

The climate action plan 2021 will include measures to promote the uptake of electric and low-emission vehicles where car journeys are necessary. We have an ambitious goal to have almost 1 million electric vehicles in the private transport fleet by 2030, and we are on our way to meeting this target. Already in 2021 we have seen a high purchase level of EVs in the car market, accounting for 15% of all new car purchases in Ireland this year. However, we still have a long way to go and we need to ensure that we have the right supports in place. Together with Government incentives and investment in the recharging network, we expect to see a further rise in EV uptake in the coming years.As I said from the outset, we all agree on the need for change in the area of transport to address our climate commitments and improve sustainable mobility options throughout the country. While there is no easy pain-free solution to the decarbonisation of the transport system, the response to our climate challenge requires collaboration, co-operation and a just transition for all. Achieving the necessary transport emissions mitigation will require individual consciousness and action by us all, underpinned by active and progressive Government interventions and support. This is an issue that should bring together. It is not a party political issue. Collectively we can create the necessary changes in the transport sector. I thank the Acting Chairperson and Senators for bringing forward this motion today.