Reacting to Budget 2020, Social Democrats Spokesperson on Climate Change, Dublin Bay North Cllr. Cian O’Callaghan said:
“If we are serious about tackling climate change then we need shift investment into sustainable public transport and cycling to reduce transport emissions and let road projects take a back seat for a while.
“The National Development Plan published by the government last year prioritises spending on road projects over and above investment in sustainable public transport and cycling.
“Budget 2020 was an opportunity from the government to signal a major shift in priorities to tackle climate change – it is disappointing that this hasn’t happened. The lack of capacity in public transport is at crisis levels – there are people fainting on overcrowded peak time services.
“Failure to invest in public transport, retrofitting of homes and other measures to offset the cost of carbon tax increases on households will only lead to growing inequality by hitting those least able to afford to adapt the hardest.”
ENDS
8th October 2019