Study of the Environmental Implications of Irish Transport Growth and of Related Sustainable Policies and Measures

This report presents the findings of a study of the environmental implications of the growth in transport and the scope for developing related sustainable policies and measures. The study was commissioned in October 1997 under the Technical Assistance Programme with the Operational Programme for Transport. This report is supported by a separate Technical Report that contains details of the methods and calculations used to derive estimates of traffic volumes and external impacts. The two principal objectives of the study were: 1) to assess the overall environmental impact of existing transport volumes and patterns and 2) to project the environmental impact of continuing traffic growth and network development. Two important subsidiary objectives were: 1) to assess the current status of sustainable policies and measures, in particular taxes and subsidies and 2) to consider the scope for further such policies and measures, in particular pricing measures.