Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I launched the national planning framework so I understand the position. The framework presents all of us with an opportunity to try to get this right because the previous spatial plan was a joke. By coincidence, I also introduced climate change legislation which includes mitigation for transport and the Department. I am looking forward to the national planning framework because I see very little in the budget to deal with the climate requirements for transport. I presume that TII will, as part of this process, consider the requirements on us, not only under the national planning framework and for roads, but also by weighing up roads versus whether alternative methods of transport would be best suited for the country under the planning framework. This includes the use of rail as opposed to road, the linking up of our ports, funding opportunities under the TEN-T programme and so forth. One example would be the linking of Waterford Port with Foynes and Limerick ports and the process for doing this. I want to ensure that in addition to doing cost-benefit analyses, using the other weightings and addressing bottlenecks and other requirements, there is a guarantee that the national planning framework, our commitment to the climate change legislation and everything else are also part of the decision making process.