John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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598. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has considered a possible ban on diesel vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39606/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​My Department has not considered introducing a ban on diesel vehicles.

Policy in relation to alternative fuels and air quality falls primarily within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. Our Departments work together closely on matters of mutual interest.

Ireland has expressed its intention, through a national policy position, to transition to a low carbon economy by 2050.  Switching to the use of alternative fuels and technologies will be an integral part of the transport sector's efforts to decarbonise.  This will be reflected in Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan, which is due to be published in 2017. It is also reflected in my Department's recent draft policy framework on infrastructure for alternative fuels, on which a public consultation recently closed. 

Transitioning away from the use of oil over the coming decades will not only help to meet climate objectives but it will also have co-benefits in terms of air quality.  It is expected that the transport sector will move predominantly to electricity for passenger cars, commuter rail and taxis by 2030.  Natural gas, along with some electrification, will provide an interim alternative solution for larger road vehicles - freight and buses.  It is envisaged that biofuels will continue to play a role over the next ten years or so.

In the future, to fulfill our national ambition for transition to lower emitting vehicles (LEVs), a wide range of measures will be required.  The potential benefits of introducing low emissions zones in urban areas will be considered in this context.  To date, the introduction of low emissions zones in other countries have been spearheaded by city authorities for air quality purposes. It may also be necessary, in future years, to consider a ban on the sale or import of petrol and diesel fuelled cars, particularly if there is a need to accelerate the low carbon trajectory for transport or if a similar approach to restricting sales of such vehicles is being adopted across the rest of Europe.

Such measures can be given consideration over time and as required to underpin the transition to alternative fuels.