Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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456. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that travel reduction targets for the transport sector in general continues to be attainable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan makes clear that, in addition to increasing the proportion of kilometres driven by passenger electric cars, we need to reduce the remaining fossil fueled passenger car kilometres by at least 10% to fully achieve a 51% emissions reduction for the transport sector by 2030.  While all options are on the table as we strive to achieve carbon neutrality, we must ensure that if policies like this are pursued that they are evidence based and that viable alternatives exist for people to continue to make their journeys.

Transport activity and demand are closely linked to employment and economic activity. Anticipated demographic growth will lead to increases in these areas. As a result, transport is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. Nonetheless, immediate action is necessary and I am confident that we will achieve our targeted reduction by 2030.

In recent months, my Department has advanced a variety important policy initiatives which will make a significant impact - notably a new Sustainable Mobility Policy, a new Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy, the National Transport Investment Framework, a Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement and a 5 Cities Demand Management Study and associated toolkit. Later this year, we will be publishing a 10 year Haulage Strategy which will inter alia, consider the long term decarbonisation options for this sector

In terms of investment, through the NTA, we are advancing work on rural public transport (Connecting Ireland), Bus Connects and Active Travel programmes which will seek to promote modal shift to more sustainable transport, along the continued electrification of the public transport fleet and expansion of DART services. My Department is also considering how we can refine current commitments in order to deliver additional emissions reductions in a fair and equitable manner over the next 8 years.

Reducing car dependency and implementing a radical shift towards sustainable mobility is the ultimate goal. As investments and projects in transport often materialise over the medium-term, my Department is taking action now that will pay dividends in future years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of capital investment in the transport sector for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21274/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Development Plan 2021-2030 was launched by Government in October 2021 has allocated €35 billion for the investment in transport. The plan heavily invests in public transport and active travel to support Ireland’s climate change obligations to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Some of the major projects include:

- 500,000 extra daily walking, cycling and public transport journeys will be delivered by 2030, making it easier for people to travel in a sustainable way. €360 million a year will support up to circa 1,000 km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025, as well as additional investment in greenways – the largest ever investment in active travel infrastructure.

- BusConnects will be substantially delivered in all five cities across the country, massively expanding access to public transport and radically improving cycling infrastructure. On rural and regional bus services, around €350m will be invested in renewing and expanding fleets across the country.

- Increased investment in the inter-urban and regional rail network will improve journey times, enhance reliability and maintain safety across the system. MetroLink and Dart+ in Dublin will be progressed to construction.

- Complementing public transport infrastructure investment, Connecting Ireland will deliver a dynamic approach to public transport in rural and regional areas, expanding local bus services and connecting rural communities with their key towns and regional growth centres.

- The NDP commits to a renewal of the road network (100,000 km), major urban and regional roads projects will be progressed to delivery including the M50 Traffic Control Project and bypasses of Moycullen and Listowel. Other important projects will be progressed including the N20/M20 corridor. It is targeted that almost 1 million electric cars, supported by additional infrastructure, will be travelling on our roads by 2030.

These capital investments in our transport infrastructure will have a transformative effect on how we travel, supporting increased usability for the public and making substantial gains in our mission to combat climate change over the course of this decade.

Further details on the NDP's transport commitments can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/774e2-national-development-plan-2021-2030/.