Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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600. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific actions he has undertaken under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to contribute to the national mitigation plan. [25689/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​My Department's contribution to the National Mitigation Plan sets out both the challenges to meeting emission reductions targets and charts a clear and quantified path towards Ireland's national transition objective to a low-carbon, and climate resilient economy as set out in the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act 2015.

Following on from an extensive stakeholder and public consultation process in March and April, the contribution from my Department to the final National Mitigation Plan will contain numerous specific actions  to facilitate decarbonising the transport sector with defined timeframes for implementation and nominated responsible parties. Minister Naughten will bring the full Plan to Government shortly.

The mitigation measures related to the transport sector were prepared as part of a collaborative approach with colleagues in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and other relevant Government Departments. This work has been overseen by an inter-departmental National Mitigation Plan Steering Group and the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Climate Action and the Environment. Additionally, we have closely engaged with the recommendations of the Climate Change Advisory Council and insights shared have been considered in the preparation of Transport's contribution.

The transport mitigation measures highlighted as part of the Plan are wide-ranging and focus primarily on: promoting behavioural change and modal shift; further investment in public transport; increasing public transport capacity; and movement to alternatively fuelled vehicles.

The Plan will be a living document which will reflect the on-going process to decarbonise as climate research, analysis, public and interdepartmental dialogue and technological innovations progress. Enabling Ireland's transformation to a sustainable, low-carbon economy will remain a priority for my Department and complementary measures being developed and implemented across the transport sector will continue to contribute to the cost-effectiveness of future policy and investment priorities.