Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the measures taken by his department to reduce emissions in the transport sector in line with Ireland's EU climate obligations, particularly in view of the findings of the EPA which state that 29% of Ireland's non-ETS emissions come from the transportation sector; his views on the recent review by the NTA and Irish Rail which found that an investment of €600 million in Iarnród Éireann is required in the next five years to keep it solvent; the measures his Department is planning to address this need, in view of the importance of rail in reducing emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32778/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In order for Ireland to effectively and equitably contribute to the EU emissions reduction commitments, an ambitious low-carbon development strategy, the National Mitigation Plan, is currently being developed.

Specific focus is being placed on the sectoral areas of electricity generation, the built environment, agriculture and transport. The responsibility for emissions reduction is, of course, a collective one and Ireland's EU emission reduction targets are national and not sectoral in nature. When all sectoral inputs have been co-ordinated, the draft mitigation plan will be available for extensive public consultation before being submitted for approval to Government.

Transport will of course have to play a significant role on the national mitigation effort. The measures under consideration for transport will be wide-ranging and will focus on modal shift, movement to alternative fuels and targeted behavioural change. To date, considerable progress has been achieved through measures aimed at promoting improved technologies such as the rebalancing of Vehicle Registration Tax and Motor Taxation as well as the increase in the biofuel obligation rate.

In relation to the Rail Review, I will be bringing this to Government next week and will be arranging for its publication and public consultation shortly after.  Rail will play a role in reducing our transport emissions and the DART expansion programme is illustrative of its significance. The first phase of the expansion programme will begin, with the extension of the DART line to Balbriggan.  The design and planning for the further phases, which include expansion of DART services to Maynooth in the west and Hazelhatch in the south west, will also be progressed. The Dart Underground Project, which remains a key element of integrated transport for the Greater Dublin Area, will be redesigned to provide a lower cost technical solution, whilst retaining the required rail connectivity.

The National Transport Authority in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme.  A project team is being established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding. Subject to availability of funding and approval of the business case for the project, it is envisaged that the Balbriggan Dart extension would commence in 2020.