Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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247. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the research that has been commissioned by his Department on climate change mitigation and or adaptation over the past year; and if he will supply a copy of the terms of reference for any such research. [3334/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work being done to develop climate change mitigation policy applicable to his Department and the public participation opportunities incorporated in that work. [3341/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

My Department launched a public consultation process on the preparation of a low carbon roadmap for the transport sector on 17 December 2013.  This roadmap is being prepared in anticipation of obligations proposed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. The National Roadmap will be coordinated by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and will be completed, following public consultation, in 2014.

Roadmaps for adaptation will also be prepared by key sectors, including transport, and Departments will be guided by the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework on the preparation of sectoral adaptation plans.

The NESC Secretariat analysis in 2012 made a strong case for the national climate challenge to be reframed and the sectoral roadmap for the transport sector will form part of that process.  It will set out a pragmatic approach towards achieving a transition to a low-carbon transport sector in the period up to and including 2050.  The early stakeholder consultation for the transport roadmap concludes on 7 February 2014.

While no research has been commissioned in the last year, my Department keeps abreast of the extensive research being conducted in this area.  Such data is important in determining the range of measures necessary for the development of a robust and cost-effective policy platform for climate change mitigation and adaptation.