Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Environmental Policy

9:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 866: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount he expects to spend on carbon credits for 2009 and 2010; his views on whether it is appropriate to support the purchase of carbon credits at a time when public transport operators have been forced to cut their services due to reduced funding; his further views on whether money would be better utilised in establishing a world class public transport system which would encourage persons to reduce their use of the private car rather than purchasing carbon credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1061/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, the National Treasury Management Agency has been designated as purchasing agent for the State. In 2009, the Agency spent some €23.9m exclusive of VAT from the Carbon Fund in connection with the purchase of carbon credits. This sum will be refunded from my Department's Vote in 2010. It is expected that the National Treasury Management will spend some €4.5m in 2010.

In Ireland's case, use of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms for the purchase of carbon credits on the international market supplements rather than substitutes for national measures to reduce emissions. The objective of the purchasing programme is to ensure compliance with Ireland's legally-binding obligations in the relatively short commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.

The renewed Programme for Government emphasised the importance of investment in public transport and in incentivising the behavioural change that will deliver a more sustainable transport future for all of us. This emphasis can be seen very clearly in this year's budget, under which key public transport projects are being continued, to ensure enhancement of rail services, particularly to support commuters, and to give increased priority to buses in Dublin and other cities.

The Government also recently published a new transport policy, Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future. It sets out a clear path towards significantly reducing emissions in the transport sector by 2020. Smarter Travel will promote a more sustainable transport system that encourages more active modes of travel, improving local towns and community space, reducing congestion, and delivering significant health benefits.

I hope that these steps to develop and promote our public transport system will, inter alia, contribute to reducing the use of purchased carbon units for compliance purposes in the post-Kyoto period.

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