Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in the context of the new report from the Environmental Protection Agency which indicates that transport emissions are now 165% above 1990 levels and have risen by 5.2% in the past year, his Department has made any estimates for the expected level of transport emissions in 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2020; the maximum level of transport emissions desirable within the context of Ireland's Kyoto Treaty obligations and the carbon budget announced under Budget 2008; the specific measures being put in place to lower transport emissions; the estimated impact on transport carbon emissions of the introduction of VRT changes in July 2008 and the car tax changes in Budget 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1658/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The growth in emissions from transport is an indication of the economic success and growth in population in Ireland. The National Climate Change Strategy projects emissions from the transport sector to grow as per the following table:

Inventories and Projections (Mt CO2E) for Transport Sector.

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, 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: www.environ.ie.

Ireland has a single target under the Kyoto Protocol and individual targets are not set for each sector. The National Climate Change Strategy includes an estimate for the impact of rebalancing VRT and Motor Tax to reflect carbon dioxide emissions. An updated analysis, to reflect the actual measures announced in the last Budget, will be presented by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in the annual report on the implementation of the Strategy. This annual report will also include updated projections of greenhouse gas emissions for all sectors.

In the meanwhile the Government is committed to delivering a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan this year and I plan to initiate an intensive public consultation process on the issues shortly. I would expect that the question of emission targets for transport will be explored in more detail during that process.