The Government is understood to be considering higher parking fees in a bid to cut car usage. 

Cabinet this morning discussed the Government’s new draft transport strategy – which includes calls for congestion charges in Irish cities.

Other policies under consideration are new charges for the most polluting vehicles, the end of rebates for diesel vehicles and reductions in the price of car insurance for those who drive less.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Friends of the Earth CEO Oisín Coghlan described it as a “menu of options” – but noted that many of the policies can only be brought in by local authorities.

“It’s really a strategy - not a plan,” he said. 

“It’s a descriptive list of things to do - rather than a decision that is going to happen. 

“One reason is that a lot of this stuff is not done by central Government at all, it’s done by local authority. 

“So, actually what I understand [is] this strategy is effectively a menu of options for local authorities to choose from... [with the aim] of reducing and reducing pollution.” 

Dublin rush-hour traffic. Image: David Cordner / Alamy Stock Photo

When questioned about the popularity of such schemes, Mr Coghlan conceded “very little is universally popular” but said pedestrianisation of streets during the pandemic “proved to be very popular”. 

“I think what we’ll see, in due course, is debates around the country of the kind that there was in Dún Laoghaire recently around their living streets proposal,” he said. 

“It was about pedestrianisation and upgrading the civic areas. 

“There were differences even within parties and even within neighbourhoods but there was actually a very democratic and comprehensive debate and ultimately the councillors went ahead with implementing this strategy.” 

A new cycle lane in Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Mr Coghlan continued that it would be a “very democratic process” and the emphasis would be on urban areas where people already have the option of using public transport. 

“My understanding is that this is going out for three months for public consultation - even before the high-level Government strategy is adopted - and then it’ll be up to county councils,” he said. 

“I think one interesting thing as well is that I think the Government, from what I’ve read, is aware of the kind of issues that you’ve just raised. 

“So, I think the framing will be that this is urban first - this is where there are public transport options.” 

Congestion charges

Mr Coghlan said he believes congestion charges will be introduced in Irish cities in the longer term.

“This is the direction that cities are going around the world,” he said. 

“We’re seeing it in London, we’re seeing it in Paris now, it’s transforming the cities to be about people first, mobility first and less dependent on the car.”

In its 2021 Climate Action Plan, the Government set itself a target of halving carbon emissions by 51% by the year 2030. 

Main image: Heavy traffic on the Quays in Dublin. Credit: Douglas O'Connor / Alamy Stock Photo