LAST UPDATE | 6 Mar 2023

TRANSPORT MINISTER EAMON Ryan has said that there needs to be a change in private car use to help reduce emissions and congestion on roads.

It comes as a memo is due to Cabinet tomorrow detailing ways in which the country can move towards ending congestion on our roads and reduce people’s reliance on the private car.

The memo will set out a suite of measures and policies that will be considered over the coming year as part of a new strategy, such as increased parking charges, reduced parking spaces, congestion charges, higher fuel costs and cheaper public transport. 

Such considerations will be contained in an annex to the Government’s Climate Action Plan, which gives more detail as to how the objectives of the plan might be achieved this year.

When asked about congestion charges earlier this afternoon, Ryan said that he didn’t believe congestion charges would be the first response to reduce traffic levels.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t see congestion charges as the first response,” Ryan said.

“I think our first response has to be to allocate the space so that it’s easier and quicker to walk and cycle and for the bus to get through fast.”

He said that there shouldn’t be “blaming or shaming” of people who do need to use cars, and that people who do need to use cars will benefit from a reduction.

Ryan said: “It doesn’t make sense for anyone when everyone is stuck in traffic.

“Reducing the traffic, increasing the bus passengers, increasing the number of people walking and cycling. That’s good for people in cars, because then they’re not just behind another car, the roads are freed up.”

According to the memo, the demand-management strategy in transport will be developed through a year-long process, which will set out the series of measures aimed at reducing car use over the next decade.

The strategy aims to set out ways to end congestion and change the way we use our road space, prioritising the provision of public transport and active travel first and foremost and giving people viable alternatives to using the car for every journey. 

It is understood that modelling work has been completed which details options that the minister believes will really move the dial on the mitigation of greenhouse gases.

Aside from the modelling, the strategy will consider other evidence and research into account before any policy decisions are made, it is understood.

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Sources were keen to reiterate that public transport and active travel must be enhanced beforehand to ensure people have options.

There is also an enhanced role for the Climate Action Delivery Board to be established made up of the Secretary Generals across Government.

It will be responsible for reporting on progress and highlighting where there are challenges so that they can be addressed quickly, ensuring that activity is not stalled.

Further task forces will be set up for high impact areas – such as land use, agriculture, and Just Transition.

Additional reporting by Tadgh McNally