Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
79. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if the Government is considering implementing a congestion charge on private motor vehicles entering Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14083/23]
View answerThe 2023 Climate Action Plan includes a commitment to develop a new National Demand Management Strategy for the transport sector over the course of this year with the aim of reducing congestion and complementing an extensive range of supports being provided by Government to help halve our transport emissions by 2030.
Such supports include incentives and investment to facilitate a large-scale transition to electric vehicles, increased penetration of biofuels in the fuel-mix, and unprecedented levels of funding in active and public transport infrastructure and services. While these supports are critical, they are not enough to help us achieve our emissions targets or to help us address gridlock, and air quality issues in our towns and cities. To this end, the new strategy will outline a high-level approach to reducing congestion and improving the air quality, safety and liveability of our urban spaces.
As the Government recognises that demand management measures are most effective and equitable when alternative, more sustainable, public transport and active travel options are readily available, the strategy will support a just transition by encouraging the alignment of demand management measures with other planned measures, such as public transport service enhancements in urban and rural areas, new active travel infrastructure, the Safe Routes to Schools Programme and supports for shared mobility facilities and services. It will take account of people with additional mobility needs, ensuring the same or better access to towns and services, and it will ensure our road networks can appropriately and efficiently support the movement of goods and people, particularly public transport services, and ongoing national and regional economic development.
While CAP23 outlines the range of measures that may be considered in the development of this new strategy, such as road space reallocation, car-free zones and user/congestion charging, nothing has been decided to date. As part of the process to develop the strategy, my department will work closely with other key departments, agencies, and local authorities to consider the potential impacts and opportunities of various demand management measures across the whole of society.
Before bringing a draft strategy to Government for final approval at the end of this year, my department will undertake an initial phase of public consultation in the coming months alongside targeted engagement with key stakeholders throughout the course of 2023.
