Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1206. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the decision in 2011 to remove projects from the application for EU Trans-European Transport Network, Ten-T funding; the projects that were removed from the application; the reason they were removed; the criteria used to decide which projects were removed; and the projects that remained. [16249/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1207. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects which were removed in 2011 from the application to the European Commission's Trans-European Transport Network Ten-T programme. [16250/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1208. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the removal of each project from the Ten-T funding programme application; the criteria used to remove projects from the application; and the criteria used to decide which projects would remain on the application. [16251/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1206 to 1208, inclusive, together.
The basis for the current TEN-T network is the European Commission’s planning methodology, available online at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52013SC0542.
The methodology highlights the criteria used for the identification of the comprehensive network (Chapter 1) and also those parts of the comprehensive network that are identified as the core network (Chapter 2). Ireland’s core transport network, which is a subset of our comprehensive network, is required to be completed by 2030 and was identified on the basis of this planning methodology, which identified the most important urban nodes, ports and airports. These nodes are connected on the TEN-T maps via multimodal transport links. The technical specifications of the Comprehensive Network are also required to be completed by 2050.
Against the backdrop of a very difficult economic climate in 2011, Ireland was required to consider the specific implications of the proposed network for Ireland’s transport infrastructure, as well as our financial capacity to complete the technical specifications of our portion of the network within the timeframes proposed.
Inclusion of transport routes on TEN-T could potentially allow projects on those routes to be part-funded by the EU. However, this could only be done through competitive EU-wide processes which were expected to be considerably over-subscribed. The majority of costs of any capital project being funded by the Exchequer would still be borne by the Exchequer, with just the potential, if applications were successful, of a minority of grant funding coming from EU sources. All projects would also require accompanying cost-benefit analyses.
It was in this context that Ireland, as with other Member States, liaised with the European Commission regarding its views on the appropriateness of the draft Network in line with the proposed methodology and with the affordability of completion of the network at that time. This resulted in sections of the proposed network not ultimately being included in the final TEN-T maps agreed in 2013.
Irish projects have to date been successful in obtaining funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) mechanism and details of these projects are available online, at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/cef-transport/projects-by-country/ireland.
Despite the economic challenges the country has faced, a priority has been placed on access to and within the North-West. The most notable demonstration of this is the Gort-Tuam motorway, which is the largest transport investment completed anywhere in the country since 2011.
That priority is maintained in the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040. Project Ireland 2040 places a strong emphasis on further improving connectivity, including the development of the strategic Cork to Limerick road link.
There will be a review of the implementation of the core network by end 2023. The Commission will consult with Member States and will evaluate progress made in the implementation of the TEN-T Regulation, as well as the impact of evolving traffic patterns and relevant developments in infrastructure investment plans. The Regulation further sets out that the Commission, in consultation with EU Member States, will evaluate whether the core network should be modified to take into account developments in transport flows and national investment planning. In the meantime, the recently published Project 2040 by Government includes a range of potential transport projects, including key transport projects in the West and Northwest regions.
