The Government has been accused of putting the cart before the horse in rural Clare with new a transport emissions reduction plan.
The Department of Transport has this week launched a new draft strategy that will aim to move motorists towards public transport.
In total, the Department of Transport has put 35 proposals out for public consultation, which include higher taxes for SUV’s, incentives to carpool, higher parking fees and congestion charges.
The ‘Moving Together’ plan will not enforce or compel any local authority to implement the measures, but will offer guidance and funding if they wish to do so.
A former Mayor of Clare believes this county’s public transport and electric vehicle charging infrastructure is nowhere near the standard required to implement such changes.
Cathoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Fianna Fáil Councillor Tony O’Brien says the cart has been put before the horse in rural Clare.
A Clare climate activist, on the other hand, claims a major change in public behaviour is needed in tandem with enhanced public transport services.
Data from Census 2022 shows that just 6% of commuters in Clare take the bus to work, which is the second-lowest rate of any county nationwide.
While in the 2023 Clare Survey, 53% of participants rated public transport as the lowest performing public service in the county.
Lisdoonvarna-based Community Development Facilitator Theresa O’Donoghue believes the urban-rural divide in service provision must be addressed, but she says improving local car-pooling efforts can also have major benefits.
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