Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade deficiencies in road, rail, air and sea transport systems with a view to identifying possible delays which may impact negatively on economic output (details supplied); if in the context of Project Ireland 2040, he will bring forward the most acute issues for resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17742/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Government has committed toward delivering an ambitious National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 to 2027 which will drive Ireland’s long term economic, environmental and social progress across all parts of the country over the next decade.
My Department and its agencies have a key role to play in delivering that progress and the NDP contains commitments toward a wide range of projects and programmes across transport, tourism and sport.
The NDP itself outlines these projects and programmes and the timelines involved and is available to view at http://www.gov.ie/en/project-ireland-2040.
These projects and programmes include:
- BusConnects in Dublin, Cork and Galway
- DART Expansion programme
- Metro Link
- Various investments in the national road network as well as the regional and local road network
- Provision of a new parallel runway in Dublin airport and a new visual control tower
- Substantial investments in all 3 Ports of National Signficance.
Details of all of the above, including timelines, can be found in the National Development Plan.
In addition to the above, the Deputy will also note the sectoral specific updates as follows.
Public Transport
The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021.
This Investment in rail incudes:
- additional Luas Capacity with new trams and lengthening existing trams on the Green Line;
- continue to maintain the heavy rail network to protect investment already made;
- complete the City Centre Re-signalling project to improve speeds on mainline rail and complete construction of the new National Train Control Centre;
- delivery of priority elements of the DART Expansion Programme including an initial move to a 10 minute headway in peak, introduction of additional train fleet, new infrastructure and substantial progress on electrification of the Northern rail line as far as Balbriggan - now expected to be delivered in 2022 - and commencing work on the Maynooth line.
Roads
As the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, I have referred the Deputy's Question to TII for for a more detailed reply.
The NDP details the regional and local roads to be progressed over the course of the NDP as part of an estimated €4.5billon investment programme. All projects bar two are expected to be completed by end 2021, the exceptions being Athy Southern Distributor Road and Killaloe Bypass/R494 Upgrade, which are expected to be completed by end 2022. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Implementation of projects included in the NDP is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
My Department will be liaising with local authorities in relation to possible future projects for development in the post 2021 period and the appraisal requirements in relation to such projects.
Aviation
With regard Airports the daa has statutory responsibility for the management and operation of the State Airports in Dublin and Cork while Shannon Airport Authority has the corresponding responsibilities in relation to Shannon Airport. Both companies operate to a commercial mandate.
In relation to aviation issues, the focus is on planning for the future and ensuring that we have the necessary infrastructure to underpin international connectivity and competitiveness. The more immediate projects in this regard include the already referenced second parallel runway and a new visual control tower for Dublin Airport. Work on both of these major projects is already underway. Project Ireland 2040 also provides for continued Exchequer support for the smaller regional airports under the Regional Airport Programme.
Ports
With regard the Ports all three Tier 1 Ports of National Significance Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes are currently engaging in major capital infrastructure projects to increase capacity to meet the future trading needs of the economy. Over the next five years Dublin Port will progress a c.€230m infrastructure investment, Port of Cork is investing c.€90m, and Shannon Foynes Port will be investing c.€27m.
This investment will provide additional capacity through increasing the number, size and depth of berths, preparing the ports for increases in ship sizes and frequency.
The Department through the IMDO have engaged consultants to complete a Port Capacity Study by the end of 2018. This study will inform the future capacity requirements of the ports to meet the trading needs of the economy, taking into account the possible implications of Brexit.
Ports and shipping companies are currently exploring the feasibility of new shipping routes directly to continental Europe and increasing capacity on existing routes, particularly in the context of Brexit.
