Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
207. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is his policy to only significantly improve and expand the rail network in which there is currently a high density of population rather than providing a national network that would give rail access to all parts of the State and enable the lower populated areas to grow more rapidly thus contributing to a better spatial distribution of persons and economic activity across the State. [62604/21]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that is most definitely not the policy or approach I am pursuing.
The National Planning Framework sets out the spatial planning context for the State’s development for the next twenty years and I certainly believe improved public transport (including rail) has a role to play in supporting NSO1: Compact Growth; NSO2: Enhanced Regional Accessibility; NSO3: Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities; NSO4: Sustainable Mobility and NSO8: Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society.
I do believe that in examining transport connectivity issues, those issues need to be examined on a mode neutral basis and that specific issues will require different solutions depending on the specific circumstances.
In terms of the transport needs of rural and regional Ireland there are two hugely significant initiatives currently underway, the Strategic Rail Review and the National Transport Authority’s Connecting Ireland – Rural Mobility Plan.
Both of these initiatives are examining improved public transport in rural and regional Ireland and in the case of the Strategic Rail Review is specifically considering the potential of rail in the context of rural and regional Ireland.
These initiatives, when finalised, will support the spatial distribution as set out in the National Planning Framework.
