Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have approximately ten minutes left. I propose members take one minute each. I want to make some concluding remarks to Mr. Spratt.

We look forward to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, coming before us. The national development plan, NDP, is a significant document for Ireland. We want to get the review right and want a sustainable model. We welcome Mr. Spratt's public confirmation that the national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI, will now go to public consultation. That is the way it should be in a normal democratic process such as the strategic investment framework for land transport which was approved by Cabinet on 15 April 2015. We expect NIFTI to be similarly approved by Cabinet and that it would feed into the review of the national development plan.

Mr. Spratt spoke about moving away from road. What is the Department's public position on roads given the fact we have electric cars coming on stream? The carbon footprint will go down with electric cars and buses must use roads.

How much do the economic benefits of projects factor into the Department's deliberation on proposals? I have not seen this in the documents. I have seen references to road versus role. We all want to decarbonise but this is about an integrated model that works.

I welcome that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, will come before us shortly. I also welcome that the national investment framework for transport in Ireland will now go to public consultation. Mr. Spratt might make us aware when this happens. He might also discuss with the Minister the possibility of our getting a copy of the submission made in the NDP so that we are informed in our submission and thinking.

I ask Mr. Spratt to briefly respond to those questions. I will then call on Deputy O'Rourke and Deputy Carey.