Plea to boost public transport and cut car use
The Government must invest more funds in the rail network to combat Ireland’s status as the most car-dependent country in the world, it was urged today.
Progressive Democrats transport spokesman, Senator Tom Morrissey, said more needs to be done to improve public transport before people will leave their cars at home.
“Commuters continue to use their cars because of inadequacies in our rail network, particularly in the greater Dublin area,” Senator Morrissey said. “We will never entice these motorists to switch to public transport unless an efficient system is put in place.”
Mr Morrissey urged Minister for Transport Martin Cullen to prioritise spending on the rail network during next month’s estimates of public spending ahead of the upcoming budget.
“The commuter belt now spreads as far as Carlow, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Dundalk, yet the rail service for these areas is not up to scratch,” the senator said.
Ireland is now considered the most car-dependent country in the world, an international environmental organisation, Friends of the Earth, has shown.
The campaign group, which opened its Irish branch yesterday, said studies showed carbon dioxide emissions had increased by 124% between 1990 and 2002.
Mr Morrissey said Irish Rail’s five-year-plan to increase passenger numbers and improve suburban routes was “ambitious” but the resources were still required.
Former Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan said earlier this year the state would be investing almost €3bn in rail over the next five years.
