IT WOULD be “ludicrous” to support the early introduction of congestion charges while the public transport system is still hugely deficient, Labour’s transport spokesman Tommy Broughan has said.
He called on Minister for the Environment John Gormley and his Green Government colleagues to say if they were committed to maintaining public transport investment in the budget.
Mr Broughan pointed to the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) climate change report published yesterday which highlighted the 160 per cent increase in transport carbon emissions since 1990.
The report identifies three strategic options for Ireland, including a strategy involving congestion charges and a fuel carbon tax to help combat transport carbon emissions.
Mr Broughan said the key plank in any sustainable transport system should be a massively enhanced public transport system.
“Yet, Mr Gormley and his Green colleagues have not stated whether they are willing to stand by Government leaks proposing to stall and slash funding for critical Transport 21 infrastructural projects in the upcoming budget,” Mr Broughan added.
“The key test for Mr Gormley and his colleagues will be if they are willing to go through the Dáil lobbies to support a budget which eviscerates public transport investment. Where exactly does Mr Gormley stand on this issue, especially in relation to addressing rising transport emissions?”
