LAST UPDATE | 21 Dec 2022
REDUCED PARKING AND a minimum parking charge in all urban areas are some measures contained in the government’s climate action targets.
The climate action plan, which was approved by Cabinet today, sets out how the legally binding carbon budgets and agreed sectoral emissions ceilings will be achieved.
The overall target is for a 51% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
While there is no specific commitment or target relating to congestion charging within the plan, but Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said such charges cannot be ruled out.
“We cannot rule that out. But I believe and I argue within our department that our first response shouldn’t be the use of those congestion charges,” he said, adding that the first response should be the reallocation of road space and car park initiatives, as well as ensuring that public transport is “super fast”.
Speaking to reporters today, the minister said he doesn’t believe “punitive” mechanisms will work if they are not alongside better alternatives.
Reduced parking, particular for government agencies, departments and the civil service, is also contained within the plan, as is the end of free workplace parking and a minimum parking charge in all urban areas.
When The Journal asked the minister if he had the civil service unions on his side when it comes to this proposal, he said:
“I’m confident civil service unions and the departments will lead by example.”
Fórsa and the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPSH) refused to comment on the proposed policy when approached by The Journal.
He said many years ago, there were clear commitments to reduce down several thousand public sector car parking spaces in the city centre., but he said negotiations over many years failed.
“We need to lead by example,” he added, stating it will be”better for everyone”, including civil servants.
If civil servants have access to a really good quality bus or rail service, behaviours will shift, said the minister, adding that “people don’t want to be stuck in traffic, they want a quick and effective way in and out and I think the unions will agree with that”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said whatever is introduced down the line will require consultation.
“This is going to be thought through and done in terms of consultation. We can make our cities and urban areas more attractive for people to use public transport, to engage in active travel but it’s not about getting the stick out to people who don’t have alternatives. That’s not the way it’s going to be at all,” said Varadkar.
“The Government isn’t going to be culling any cows nor is the Government going to confiscate anyone’s car or curtail car ownership.
“This is going to be about incentives to use the bus or a train or to walk or to cycle [and] incentives to use an electric vehicle,” said the Taoiseach.
Ministers were keen to state that these changes are prefaced by the proviso that action will only be taken when public transport is improved.
All three party leaders said they would be in favour of removing cars from the car park at the front of Leinster House. However, Varadkar and Ryan said an alternative space for TDs would have to be found.
The Taoiseach said old photos of the space in front of Leinster House was very beautiful before the “horrible car park” was installed at the front of the building.
“I’d be very happy to see the carpark replaced and that area brought back into public use. But I think we need to be practical, there would have to be an alternative for TDs whether they’re rural TDs or whether they’re urban TDs, it’s not the case that TDs come to the office once a day and go home. Anybody whether urban or rural probably has to be in 20 or 25 different locations in any given week in their constituency, in Dublin, and elsewhere. So we’d have to have some sort of arrangements I think around parking perhaps using one of the multi-storey car parks,” he said.
In addition, contained within the plan is the commitment to reduce the total distance driven across all car journeys by 20%.
The government also wants one in three private cars to be electric by 2030, with chargers to be installed on all new residential buildings, public buildings, where possible, and all schools by 2025.
The plan also sets out an increase in the annual afforestation rates to 8,000 hectares per annum from 2023 onwards, and to deliver an additional 28,000 hectares up to 2025.
A new green electricity tariff will be developed by 2025 to incentivise people to use lower cost renewable electricity at times of high wind and solar generation.
The new Finance Minister, Michael McGrath said:
“When you go through the individual items, I’m conscious that can seem like a chore to a lot of people because we’re going to be asking for sacrifices but I do think we have to remember why we’re doing it,” he told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland.
“It is about protecting the natural environment. It’s about enriching our biodiversity. It’s about making sure we have clean water around the country, and that we’re breathing clean air.”
He declined to reveal details of the climate action plan ahead of discussions later but said that transport as with other sectors is “going to have to make a very significant contribution”, with a “greater emphasis on public transport” as a result.
This will require continued investment in active travel plans across the country, McGrath told the programme.
“We are really conscious that we have to give people a clear alternative. If we want people to leave the private car behind them then they have to see that there is a practical substitute that works for them.”
With reporting by Eoghan Dalton
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