Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he proposes to ensure an adequate balance in investment in transport between urban and rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30455/23]
View answerThe National Planning Framework and National Development Plan are underpinned by ten National Strategic Outcomes. Transport is key to delivering these outcomes across a range of areas, including sustainable mobility, the transition to a low-carbon society, compact growth, enhanced regional accessibility, and strengthened rural economies and communities. These outcomes are reflected in the sectoral investment framework for the coming decades, the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland, which includes specific investment priorities in relation to urban mobility and regional and rural connectivity.
These strategic considerations are firmly reflected in the balance of investment across the transport sector. In urban areas, under the National Development Plan, significant progress will be made this decade in the delivery of BusConnects programmes in all five cities, DART+, MetroLink and Cork Commuter Rail. Outside of the cities, a range of new town bus services will also be launched starting with Carlow Town in July 2023, and followed by Mullingar, Ennis and Portlaoise. Additionally, Ireland’s first all-electric town bus service was also launched in January 2023.
To support regional connectivity and our rural communities, this Government has committed to fully protecting transport maintenance budgets, preserving the value and safety of our various transport networks. In terms of investment in new infrastructure, the National Development Plan will see delivery of a range of national, regional and local road projects, including the Dunkettle Interchange, the N5 Westport to Turlough and strategic bypasses of rural towns such as Listowel and Moycullen. Furthermore, significant funding is available to local authorities for the delivery of new active travel and Greenways infrastructure in the coming years. Underlining this ambition, TII’s National Cycle Network to be published later this year will outline proposed cycling corridors between approximately 200 villages, town and cities nationwide.
