John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

814. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be project trials funded under the Carbon Reduction Programme in 2018 other than vehicle trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30763/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to place the transport sector on a decarbonisation pathway a diverse range of mitigation measures must be employed.  Key among them being investing in public and sustainable transport to expand capacity and provide attractive alternatives to private car use where feasible; incentivising the transition from fossil fuels to alternative fuels and technologies; and making the conventional fuel mix more sustainable by incrementally increasing the blend ratio under the Biofuel Obligation Scheme.  The suite of transport's emission mitigation measures - both in-use and under consideration - are described in the National Mitigation Plan at this https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/National%20Mitigation%20Plan%202017.pdf.

A series of measures announced in Budget 2018 clearly reflected this Government’s determination to make progress on decarbonising transport.  I am pleased to have secured significant funding commitments to actively address the climate challenge on three key fronts. Firstly, we are working to enhance the capacity and quality of public transport to ensure that, as far as possible and practical, our increased transport demand is met by greener public transport (over €400 million will be invested in public transport infrastructure in 2018 alone with a four year capital envelope of over €2.5 billion).Secondly, we will invest over €100 million in a multi-annual cycling and walking programme to support greater uptake of active travel. And, as recommended by the Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, a suite of tax and expenditure measures was announced to clearly indicate the Government’s commitment to a low-carbon electric vehicle future. In addition, €5.5 million was assigned in Budget 2018 under the Carbon Reduction Programme.

In 2018 it is envisaged that the Carbon Reduction Programme will be mainly employed to: support alternatively fuelled urban bus trials to help inform purchasing decisions for new buses over the coming years; support the transition of the national car fleet towards electrification through a reduced EV toll regime (launched 1 July) and an EV SPSV Grant Scheme (launched in February); and begin to support research projects in areas such as modal shift and reducing emissions in the Heavy Duty Vehicle sector.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

815. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding available under the green public transport fund in 2017 and 2018; the projects funded under this programme in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30764/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Within my Department's overall funding allocation, €5.5m was assigned in Budget 2018, and €29 million from 2019-2021, specifically to provide for a Carbon Reduction Programme to support measures which aid in decarbonising the transport sector. From within this allocation, funding is sourced for the Green Public Transport Fund which was established to support the uptake of low carbon, energy efficient technologies within the public transport sector. The Fund is intended to support piloting and uptake of energy efficient and alternatively fuelled technologies for PSO operators within the bus fleet and small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, as well as bridging the price differential between such technologies and conventionally fuelled vehicles.

 In 2017, no funding was drawn down; later this year an up-to-date and comprehensive set of vehicle trials is being planned to commence to help inform purchasing decisions for new buses over the coming years.  It is envisaged that in 2018 the NTA will employ the Fund to support these urban bus fleet trials. In addition, the Fund is also supporting the transition of the national SPSV fleet to alternative technologies through the establishment of a new Electric Vehicle SPSV Grant Scheme. By the end of May 2018, €45,221 had been drawn down from the Fund to pay grants under this scheme.