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Number of Cars on the Road - Batt O'Keeffe

01/02/07

Batt O'Keeffe TD Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government outlined that there is a record number of vehicles on Irish roads.  The total number of licensed (taxed) vehicles at 31st December 2006 was 2,296,393, an increase of 157,713 or 7.37% on the 2005 figure.

The Minister said, "The huge increase in vehicle numbers in recent years is a clear indication of the economic prosperity of recent times.  The 11% increase in goods vehicle suggests a continued increase in economic activity, while the extra private cars indicates greater disposable income.  It also reflects the fact that there is a greater number of people at work and therefore a greater need for people to use the private car."

"However increased car usage presents its own difficulties, and from the motorists point of view, traffic congestion is the obvious one, particularly around our major urban centres.  I am pleased though that under Transport 21 and the National Development Plan, significant resources are committed to continue the upgrade of our roads network and also increase the capacity and availability of public transport, in order to give people the alternative to the private car," the Minister continued. 

Increased car usage has also resulted in a concomitant increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as outlined by the EPA in its recent report.  "The Government is determined to decouple the trend of increased numbers of vehicles from further increases in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector," stated Minister O'Keeffe.  "The alignment of the investment in public transport with the National Spatial Strategy and the development of integrated land-use and transportation strategies will help to constrain growth in emissions by ensuring that future residential and commercial development will be concentrated as close as possible to existing and future public transport systems."

The announcement by the Government this week of a new target of 5.75% by 2009 for the use of biofuels is calculated to achieve CO2 savings of up to 700,000 tonnes by 2009, the equivalent of taking almost 200,000 cars off the road. A more ambitious target of 10% biofuels penetration by 2020 has also been set by the Government.

On the demand side, the Government is consulting on proposals to change the motor tax and VRT systems to more closely reflect CO2 emissions.  The Government has already put in place 50% relief on VRT for electric, hybrid and flexible fuel cars. Revisions to motor tax and VRT, coupled with the existing VRT relief will provide a greater incentive for consumers to choose fuel-efficient and lower-emissions vehicles.

"The extra vehicles on our roads is one of the most obvious indicators of the prosperity that we have enjoyed in recent times – more employment, more commercial activity, more disposable income.  However it does have a down side but the Government is determined to alleviate the negative aspects so that quality of life and the quality of the environment are not irreparably damaged," the Minister concluded.

ENDS
22/02/07

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie

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