Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

In the past 11 months the Department of Transport has developed the most detailed national transport plan ever devised in this country. Transport 21 will give Ireland a first class transport system that, on a national level, connects all regions to each other and to our main seaports and airports and, in the cities, will provide greatly enhanced public transport alternatives to the private car.

Transport 21 has been specifically developed with a view to supporting the Government's national spatial strategy 2002-20, the purpose of which is to promote more balanced regional development. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that the strategic approach of the national spatial strategy is to improve access to the wide range of attractions in the midlands so that, through the integrated network of towns, it will possess the advantages of a dynamic region containing a large city. This is being achieved by the development of Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore as a linked gateway, using their complementary capabilities.

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