Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations, which were very interesting. I will pick up the point on which Ms Graham ended, namely, that relating to the social benefit. In terms of the social and environmental benefit, it is the question of push and pull again. Given the extent of the scale-up we need in terms of new transport and sustainable transport, does Ms Graham agree that we cannot wait for it to be market demand led but that it needs to be something whereby, to paraphrase Mr. Caulfield, we look at the pull as well as the push and that we are creating it?

Has it been the experience, as it seems to be in the cases of which I know, that where public transport is provided, the demand follows when the offer is made? In this regard, I would like the witnesses to comment on two specific parts of the infrastructure. Is there vision or scope for looking at new rail infrastructure additional to what we have, particularly given the concerns with regard to electrification and longer runs for bus transport? What steps are being taken to include greater integration between rail and bus services, for example, more use of feeder buses to rail points and rail networks and more bicycles on those buses and rail services? This is the interlocking piece in the context of transport. Specifically, I am thinking of the west of Ireland where we have a lot of forced car usage.

The other item of infrastructure I would like the witnesses to comment on relates to what Mr. Torney said about the social cultural governance forces.

What of those parts that are not just about new allocation of the road but around creating new pedestrian and cycle infrastructure and perhaps making more use, for example, of rights of way powers that are there at local level in terms of creating pathways and routes that make towns permeable and which are not necessarily only on the road?

Finally, a technical question for Ms Graham. I am aware there are a number of active travel jobs planned in local authorities but is there a question there of what kind of terms of reference they will have? Specifically on the regional design offices, the new 18 posts, how much seniority will they have? Will the national cycling manual be something they are really empowered to insist on being implemented in local planning? Is there a danger that rail gets lost when we look at a county-by-county consultation rather than a joined-up approach?