Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Transport has secured €3.5 billion to fund projects and programmes run under our remit in 2024. This has been a budget focused on investing in young people and families. This theme is apparent in the package that has been provided to continue many of the public transport affordability measures for families and young adults. The 50% discount for those with a young adult card has been extended for two more years and will benefit 24-year-olds and 25-year-olds. These additional cuts come alongside the 20% fare reductions for all, which were originally introduced as a temporary cost-of-living measure and have been secured again for 2024.

As passenger numbers on public transport increase, it is clear these reductions are helping more people to choose sustainable modes of travel. In addition, we will have more services and an expansion of public transport capacity in urban and rural areas, which shows demonstrable progress by this Government.

As time is limited, I will keep my comments to a few items. I will outline in more detail how this investment will impact roads, road safety and the maritime and aviation sectors. We will invest more than €1.2 billion in our roads network. This is made up of €937 million in maintenance, protection and renewal of the network and well over €200 million for new roads. There is a need, as many Deputies have stated, for further investment in the network to fulfil our commitments in the national development plan, our commitments to regions and for ongoing connectivity from a road safety perspective. That is something the Government will discuss further as we engage in capital allocations for 2024.

We seek every opportunity to improve road safety in light of the increased number of fatalities on our roads. I can confirm the Road Safety Authority, RSA, will provide an additional €3.6 million this year to strengthen the message to the public around safety and awareness on our roads, while €2 million will be provided by the RSA to ensure the driver curriculum is effective in highlighting the issues drivers need to know about, with the constant concerns of speed, seatbelts and attentiveness still requiring attention, and newer challenges also relevant, including the impact of drugs on driving. A review of the RSA will commence shortly to ensure it has what it needs to fully deliver on this agenda. The RSA’s efforts will be underwritten with €15 million earmarked for road safety upgrades next year, including improvements to junctions, the N20 slip extension in Cork and many other road projects.

More than €100 million will be allocated in 2024 to maritime transport and safety, as well as ongoing support to the coast guard. An additional €5.8 million is provided to the coast guard to assist the transition to a search and rescue aviation service and for coast guard safety. The new contract will enable the coast guard to continue to provide world-class maritime and inland search and rescue services, including the expansion of the aviation service for the coast guard - I will finish in 20 seconds - two fixed-wing aircraft based at Shannon Airport and support for the coast guard’s search and rescue operations.

The capital allocation for investment in coast guard buildings and assets has increased from €8 million in 2023 to €18 million in 2024, while €70 million is being provided to our regional airports to support investments, safety and security. We are also progressing a review of the regional airports programme, which will be decided on in the coming weeks.

The budget seeks to secure our future while addressing the urgent needs of the present, particularly in light of the pressure on the finances of families, individuals and businesses. It invests in essential infrastructure for all modes of travel and supports greater safety and sustainability. It supports protection and renewal of our national, regional and local roads and continued construction of the roads programme. It improves maritime safety and security. I look forward to our continuing to deliver on our commitments in 2024.

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