Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
110. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the review of the Ten-T maps for Ireland with a view to including more regional development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14133/20]
View answerIn April 2019, the European Commission commenced the review of TEN-T with an evaluation of the existing TEN-T Regulation together with an open public consultation. This consultation took place between April and July 2019 and generated responses from more than 600 citizens and organisations, including 33 from Ireland.
In August 2019 my predecessor Minister Ross made a submission to former EU Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, on the matter of reviewing the TEN-T network. The submission focussed on highlighting national policy developments since the TEN-T Regulation came into force in 2013, particularly Ireland's National Planning Framework and National Development Plan and the implications of Brexit. The Minister requested that the Commission consider the existing methodology of the TEN-T core network with a view to including the Atlantic seaboard region of Ireland. In her response, Commissioner Bulc gave assurances that the specifities of Ireland's situation within the EU would be taken into account during the TEN-T review process.
The Commission then launched a targeted stakeholder consultation in January 2020 which largely consisted of a range of specific surveys that address the broad range of directly concerned stakeholders .
Since the review process began, my Department has been engaging with relevant stakeholders on the review. As part of the overall evaluation, on 7 July 2020 my Department is meeting with the TEN-T consultants engaged by the European Commission.
The Commissioner has advised that once the analysis of the evaluation is complete, the Commission will publish a Commission Staff Working Document expected in November 2020. In parallel, it will launch the Impact Assessment this summer, including a consultation on the policy options.
