Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area plans an increase in carbon emissions, if he is of the view that the strategy is in line with Government commitments to decrease carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33257/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I do not accept the Deputy's assertion about the GDA Transport Strategy's impact on carbon emissions.  In fact the Strategy - which was prepared by the National Transport Authority and approved by my predecessor earlier this year - commits to promoting transport options that will reduce carbon emissions.

Various policies related to climate change, carbon emissions and associated action plans were still under development at the time of preparation of the Strategy.  The Strategy explicitly recognises that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 includes provisions for the preparation of a "national mitigation plan" and a "national adaptation framework", which will establish energy related targets and actions to be adopted across the transport sector.  The Strategy commits to incorporating relevant targets and actions arising from that Act and related policies in the area of transport energy within its statutory Integrated Implementation Plans.  Incorporation of such relevant targets and actions may increase the current forecasted impact of the Strategy in terms of reducing carbon emissions.  It is my view, therefore, that the GDA Transport Strategy is in line with Government commitments to decrease carbon emissions.