'Smarter Transport' To Reduce Ireland's Car Dependancy

The Government's latest plan to alleviate the congested roads has published under the name of the Smarter Transport Initiative.

The plan aims to reduce car commutes by 500,000, and moving them to more sustainable forms of transport.

The plan includes proposals to create an all island car sharing website and even raise the amount of electric vehicles to 10% of all vehicles on our roads by 2020.

Introducing the plan, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey said: "Cities are grinding to a halt with choking traffic congestion and that can’t continue. This action plan that I am publishing today shows a different way and sets out how to get there.

"It represents a radical transformation in transport policy that puts people, rather than vehicles, first. It has the potential to fundamentally change how we all travel.”

Among its 49 measures, the initiative will aim to slash CO2 emissions by at least 4 million tonnes, and will involve investment into more-park and ride facilities on the outskirts of our major cities and new, safer cycling and walking routes.

(DW/BMcC)