Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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17. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has examined a recent report (details supplied) on transport by the Climate Change Advisory Council and the OECD; his views on whether it confirms the failure of a policy based on private car usage in the State; if he will re-examine the current policy of trying to replace petrol and diesel cars with 1 million electric vehicles, EVs, given this still leaves a transport system that is dependent on the private car being intact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55706/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I wish to start by noting that the OECD report referenced by the Deputy builds on a previous 2021 study by the OECD Environment team on 'Transport Strategies for Net-Zero Design', which had a wider international perspective. So it is important to be clear that over-congestion and high levels of car dependency are not problems that are unique to Ireland. These are challenges that face every city and country.

What I believe the OECD report does highlight, is that, in order to meet our legally binding emissions targets for 2030, a rapid electrification of our existing vehicle fleet is not only necessary and essential, but that alone it is also insufficient. The move to a zero emissions fleet is just one part of a more fundamental and ongoing change that is required across the entire transport sector, and it is clear that we cannot expect to rely on technological solutions alone to solve our emissions problems.

Rather, we need to also reduce our high levels of overall car dependency, and our electrification strategy must be embedded in a wider framework that prioritises sustainable accessibility over car use. The additional well-being lens and systems innovation approach, which the OECD team brought to their review of the Irish transport system, highlights that to deliver real, transformative change - at the level that both meets our emissions target and is consistent with improving public wellbeing - we will require greater levels of reductions in travel demand through better spatial and land-use planning, and a large-scale shift from the private car to more sustainable modes.

My Department's inputs to the forthcoming Climate Action Plan are strongly informed by these recommendations, and I believe they also strongly reflect the vision that Government has set out in our National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP), which will inform and guide the work of the SMP Leadership Group and 'Pathfinder Programme'.

Here, we have engaged with each local authority to identify innovative, transformative plans for public transport, walking and cycling in their areas – the projects that could make the greatest difference to people living in their areas - and which can be delivered by 2025. The acceleration of these schemes will demonstrate the real societal and wellbeing benefits that can be achieved through a shift more sustainable transport.