Madam, - In Ireland carbon emissions are still increasing, but the coalition Government has recognised the urgency of the need to reduce them. There has, however, been a deplorable lucuna in the Government's pronouncement on the subject.
Rail freight is almost moribund, and Iarnród Éireann still has no coherent plan to develop goods traffic to take full advantage of heavy investment in the infrastructure. Per tonne-kilometre, a freight train is far less polluting than road vehicles of equal capacity, and its accident rate is much lower. With modern equipment, even short-distance movements of freight by rail can be profitable and the environmental gains in diminished road traffic can be great.
Through its freight facilities grant funding and its rail environmental benefit procurement scheme, the Scottish government has shown the way to greater enlightenment in inland transport. It is high time for the Government of Ireland to heed the Scottish example. - Yours, etc,
Prof G. L. HUXLEY,
School of Classics,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.