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Concerns are growing among the two main coalition parties that the Green Party is preparing a series of congestion charges as part of its climate change agenda.
The controversial congestion regime proposed for Dublin, Cork and Galway has already been imposed in London and in European cities like Paris, Oslo and Turin.
Now, the prospect of downtown car charges has surfaced after party leader and transport minister Eamon Ryan responded to a parliamentary question from his party colleague Neasa Hourigan.
Dublin Central TD asked the minister “if he plans to introduce a congestion charge for cars in Dublin city center”.
In his response, Minister Ryan confirmed that his ministry commissioned a report, titled Five Cities Demand Management Study, at the end of 2019.
He said the aim of the study was to identify transport demand for drivers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway and assess demand management in each city.
Mr Ryan said of the accusations: “The examination should be continued in the case of the cities of Dublin and Cork.
Opportunities may arise in Galway with the provision of improved public transport and park-and-ride facilities, as envisioned in Galway’s transport strategy. ‘
In its first report in April this year, the study found: “It is possible to integrate a congestion charge zone with a low emission zone, as was done in Oslo. In fact, the congestion charge would vary according to vehicle emissions.
Mr Ryan warned that meeting our emissions targets “will require a fundamental change in our approach to travel and transportation.”
A second report is expected by the study before the end of the year.
However, a source from Fine Gael warned: “It was first cycle paths, then pedestrians. The car becomes a dinosaur.
A senior source from Fianna Fáil said: “Congestion charges are inevitable. Fundamentalists are in the driver’s seat. They’re pulling the strings now.
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