James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated cost of purchasing Kyoto carbon credits up to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36561/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the amount of money to be paid in respect of the purchase of carbon credits for the year 2008 is due to be paid; the way the money will be calculated; the estimate of the amount per tonne which will be payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36612/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 189 together.

The National Climate Change Strategy signalled the possibility of supplementing greenhouse gas emission reductions with the purchase of up to 18 million carbon units in respect of the five-year Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012. In this regard, the Government announced the provision of €270 million for the purchase of units, in addition to €20 million provided in my Department's Vote in 2006. The ultimate cost to the Exchequer will depend on the final purchasing requirement and the price of the units at the time of purchasing. Independent consultants have assessed the average price in the period at €15 per unit, and the cost of purchasing up to 18 million units for Kyoto Protocol compliance purposes is therefore estimated at €270 million.

The amount to be paid each year is not predetermined and, in general, payments will be made as purchasing transactions are completed. Following enactment of the Carbon Fund Act 2007, the National Treasury Management Agency is statutorily designated as purchasing agent for acquisition of carbon units. Costs incurred by the Agency in purchasing carbon units will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the 2007 Act.

Prior to the designation of the National Treasury Management Agency as purchasing agent, my Department invested €20 million in the Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund operated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and committed a further €10 million each to the Carbon Fund for Europe and the BioCarbon Fund operated by the World Bank. Management of these investments is a matter for my Department and, since enactment of the 2007 Act, payments are made through the Carbon Fund process as they arise.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has reviewed the EEA's report Annual European Community LRTAP Convention emission inventory report 1990 to 2006, which states that emissions from cars and trucks are the biggest source of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides across the 27 EU Member States; his plans to introduce measures to address road transport pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32526/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Significant progress has been made in reducing emissions in Ireland which contribute to long range transboundary air pollution. The National Programme on Transboundary Pollutants, which the Government approved in 2005 and updated in 2007, provides for the progressive reduction of these emissions by 2010 through a range of policies and measures in different sectors. These include:

improved effectiveness of pollution abatement technologies in road vehicles, as a result of the progressive reduction of the sulphur content of both petrol and diesels;

emission reductions in the power generation sector arising from implementation of the 2001 Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/EC), transposed in Ireland by the Large Combustion Plant Regulations 2003;

replacement of old, high emitting oil-fired power plants with new state-of-the-art plants; and

ongoing implementation of integrated pollution and prevention control licensing for existing industrial plants.

In addition to the range of policies and measures in the Programme, further progress towards meeting the 2010 ceilings is being achieved through measures that have subsequently been announced. These include:

the promotion of greater energy efficiency and the recent increase in the target for electricity generated from renewable sources;

ongoing improvement in the environmental performance of road vehicles, due to the adoption of more-stringent EURO standards for motor cars and vans,

revisions to motor tax and VRT with effect from July 2008, coupled with the existing VRT relief, will provide a greater incentive for consumers to choose fuel-efficient and lower-emissions vehicles, and

greater efficiency of road usage through the Government investment in the Transport 21 programme.

Further reductions in emissions from the transport sector are expected. The Consultation Paper on Sustainable Travel and Transport, issued by the Minister for Transport in February 2008, fully recognised the problem of polluting emissions, as well as CO2, from motorised vehicles and the role that modal shift and a reduction in congestion levels could play in abatement of such emissions. I understand that it is the intention of the Minister for Transport to publish a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan before the end of this year.