Jennifer Whitmore
Question:
273. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the policy of Transport Infrastructure Ireland in relation to planting of roadway verges, in particular, motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1819/23]
View answer
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
I refer to your parliamentary question, Ref. No. 1819/23, to Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Transport. The position in relation to your enquiry is as follows.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is committed to managing its roadside spaces and landscapes in accordance with its core sustainability principles, as laid out in TII’s ‘Sustainability Implementation Plan’. TII is committed to placing sustainability at the heart of every decision it makes, thinking about its land as public space, for public good, and using it to preserve and enhance the environment, capture carbon emissions and assist in the fight against climate change.
TII’s six guiding principles of sustainability include actions to address carbon, enhance biodiversity and value the environmental and health benefits of reducing all emissions. For example, TII recognises the potential of its landscapes to capture carbon along lands adjacent to national road routes. TII has actively identified lands alongside the road network to investigate the potential of using the Woodland Creation on Public Lands scheme for carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement.
Another key focus for TII is the long-term preservation and enhancement of biodiversity within the Irish landscape. TII takes a holistic view of the sustainable management of the environment, by having regard to the quality of the entire landscape. This is achieved both by establishing areas for native trees, but also by recognising the value of enhancing other roadside habitats such as our boundary hedgerows and areas of grass meadows, which create a mosaic of habitat types on the network that support a range of biodiversity. It should be noted that TII’s long term approach to the landscapes along the transport corridors that it manages and maintains, has always been based on an ‘ecological design approach’, utilising native species (but not exclusively) and species with high biodiversity value. TII’s aim is to develop a functional, cost effective, resilient and healthy landscape that fits within the overall objectives of TII road and rail safety and performance. As part of its ongoing commitment to enhance the value of TII lands for biodiversity, TII collaborated with the All Ireland Pollinator Plan to develop a sector-specific guideline to improve the design and landscape management of its Transport Corridors, for Irish pollinators and for overall biodiversity. As part of our ongoing commitment to examine how TII can add additional capacity for increasing biodiversity, TII is currently implementing the actions of the plan, across the network. For example, as part of our grassland management, TII has reduced the frequency of grass mowing in certain areas, to enhance the value of its grass areas for wildlife and biodiversity. This has already resulted in the re-emergence of numerous native orchids along our grass verges as a direct result of this changed management.
Further information in relation to TII policies in this context can be found in, ‘Guidelines on the Implementation of Landscape Treatments on National Road Schemes in Ireland’.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
