Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the resulting increase in vehicle emissions arising as a result of the cancellation of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit underground has been estimated; if it will factor in to his Department’s ongoing preparation of its contribution to the national mitigation plan under the forthcoming climate action and low carbon development act; his views that his Department can possibly meet its proportionate emissions reduction objective in the time frame envisaged; if he will publish the advice he has received on this matter to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31956/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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M​y Department is fully committed, as part of a national policy and legislative programme, to ensuring that Ireland can effectively and equitably contribute to EU emissions reduction objectives.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is proposed to address greenhouse gas emissions through a National Mitigation Plan, which will incorporate input from the key sectors of electricity generation, built environment, agriculture and transport.  Further to early stakeholder engagement in 2014 and an information exchange with stakeholders in May 2015, my Department is currently examining a suite of measures aimed at delivering cost effective emissions reduction in the transport sector.

These measures will have a particular focus on policy development, smarter travel and modal shift, supports for alternative fuels and certain fiscal and taxation incentives to target behavioural change.  Public transport projects and investment will be considered within the wider context of developing a multi-faceted, mitigation response from the sector.  However, the responsibility for emissions reduction is a collective one and, when all sectoral inputs have been co-ordinated, the draft Plan will be available for extensive public consultation before being submitted for approval to Government.

In relation to the publication of advice on emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compiles and publishes Ireland's annual greenhouse gas emission inventories and projections.  This helps to inform policy development and to allow the Government to assess progress in terms of meeting key targets.