Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the transport sector has been able to meet carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26797/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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While there is no specific carbon reduction target for the transport sector, the sector has been contributing to reductions in these emissions. The most recent EPA figures for greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector are for 2009, and these figures show that they have fallen from a peak of 14.33 million tonnes in 2007 to 13.12 million tonnes in 2009, representing a decrease of just over 8%. A further decrease in emissions would be expected for 2010.

Whilst much of this reduction in emissions can be attributed to the contraction of the economy, savings are also being made due to implemented policies and measures such as mobility management schemes, and promoting modal shift to cycling. In particular the motor taxation and vehicle registration taxation rebalancing has resulted in a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency of new cars entering the fleet, leading to significant reductions in the associated greenhouse gas emissions.