Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector continue to rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32656/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The production of reliable estimates of CO2 emissions from transport is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest such data available to my Department (published on 16 September 2008) relate to 2006, when greenhouse gas emissions from transport were reported to be 13.71 Megatonnes CO2 equivalent, compared to 13.04 Megatonnes CO2 in the previous year. As is clear from the Sustainable Travel and Transport Consultation Document that I issued in February 2008, transport-related CO2 emissions are expected to rise significantly in the coming years unless changes in personal behaviour can be achieved. Over 480 responses to the consultation process were received from members of the public and organisations which can be viewed at www.sustainabletravel.ie. Based on these responses, it is fair to say that there is a recognition of the need for change.

I intend to publish the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan before the end of the year which will set out a wide range of actions to deliver a sustainable transport system by 2020. This aim of the Action Plan will be to deliver a reversal of the current, and likely, trends in relation to transport emissions as well as enhancement of economic competitiveness, improvement of access to modes of transport other than the private car, reductions in congestion, and improvements to quality of life.