Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to address the House on Project Ireland 2040. The programme of investment set out in the national development plan will result in a comprehensive road, bus and rail network providing a high level of service to all regions of the country, linking all parts. The planned investment in transport will also prepare for increases in demand. All this is even more important as the potential risks of Brexit make access to a range of routes to global markets for trade and tourism all the more important. It is an investment priority to ensure that the existing extensive transport networks are maintained to a high level to ensure quality levels of service, accessibility and connectivity for transport users. Protecting our vital national assets and keeping them safe and fit for purpose will be key. While we are planning for the long term, we are also increasing services in the short term and completing an existing medium-term programme of investment right out to 2022.

Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the NDP to support the development of an integrated and sustainable national public transport system both to reverse emerging congestion problems and secure a significant improvement in public transport services. BusConnects is an investment priority to radically transform the bus system and deliver a step change in performance across our cities. The benefits of BusConnects will come on stream progressively from 2019. BusConnects will aim to introduce continuous bus lanes on the busiest bus corridors along with a network of park-and-ride facilities at key locations. It will also involve major improvements in ticketing and information. Dublin will pioneer the system and, as the other cities develop transport strategies, investment will also be available for roll-out of BusConnects in the main cities. Metro link is a key transport investment priority, with indicated funding of €3 billion. We will consult with the public on metro link, which will serve people from Swords to Sandyford. Construction will commence after this consultation and approval process, likely to be 2021, with a view to delivering the project by 2027. The DART expansion programme will focus on delivery of priority elements of the programme using the recently opened rail link under the Phoenix Park. This includes buying additional fleet for the DART network and measures such as resignalling and junction and station changes followed by a programme of electrification to provide high-frequency electrified services to Drogheda, Celbridge-Hazelhatch, Maynooth and Greystones. Comprehensive cycling and walking networks will be developed in cities under the national development plan. This programme will provide safe alternative active travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure.

Building on the success of Government's continued investment in the Luas network, we will undertake appraisal, planning and design in the context of expanding the network to Bray, Finglas, Lucan and Poolbeg. A light rail corridor for Cork will also be appraised for the later stages of the period of the Cork transport strategy. These appraisals will ensure that we will be ready to expand the Luas where and when it is needed in line with sustained development and increasing demand in these areas. There is a strong link between investment in public transport and an increased need for operational funding. This is particularly the case for rural public transport services, which we are also planning to maintain and grow. This fact is rightly recognised in the national development plan.

The aim of the national planning framework is to consolidate the growing population in ways that allow efficient public transport systems and more walking or cycling journeys. This provides meaningful alternatives to the private car, the benefits of which are not limited to reducing CO2 emissions but also include lessening congestion and yielding more liveable towns and cities. As part of the national development plan, we will introduce more environmentally-friendly buses in Ireland's cities. Furthermore, investment is earmarked to support the transition to zero emission capable cars. The bold target of having 500,000 electric vehicles in our national car fleet by 2030 further signifies the extent of our commitment to decarbonise our transport sector over time. This all adds to the choice and experience of the travelling public, connecting more people with more places, easing congestion in our cities and combating climate change.

The importance of air connectivity for this island nation cannot be overstated. Ireland is well served by its airports and has a wide range of routes for business, leisure and tourism. The national development plan includes priority infrastructural improvements at our State airports as well as support for safety and security related projects at the smaller regional airports under the regional airports programme. The north runway at Dublin Airport is a nationally important piece of infrastructure, where, following a sustained period of recovery and growth, additional capacity is now required. Dublin Airport served close to 30 million passengers in 2017 and is a key enabler for the Irish economy. The international connectivity which will be afforded by a new runway is vital to our future prosperity, especially in a post-Brexit environment.

Shannon Group has plans to invest over €150 million in the coming years. This includes the construction of a wide-body paint hangar at Shannon Airport and the development of the group's considerable property portfolio to deliver high-quality, advanced commercial property that supports employment in that region. It will also support tourism in the region.

The ports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes are key international maritime gateways, handling approximately 90% of all goods received. The national development plan recognises the importance of ports in connecting Ireland to the rest of the world. Over the next five years, Dublin Port will progress infrastructure investment of roughly €230 million. The Port of Cork is investing in the region of €90 million and Shannon Foynes Port will be investing approximately €27 million. This investment will provide additional capacity through increasing the number, size and depth of berths, thereby preparing the ports for increases in ship sizes and frequency.

Strengthening access routes to Ireland's ports through investment to upgrade and enhance the road transport network to improve journey times remains a Government priority. For example, the development of the M11 improves connectivity to Rosslare Port in the south-east. Regrettably, roads funding, like so many other vital public goods and services, has been far less available than anyone would have liked in recent years. My Department has carried out detailed and robust studies to show what funding is needed to maintain our roads. This is why I welcome clear recognition in the national development plan of the importance of maintaining our transport network, particularly our roads. I know that the everyday condition of local, regional and national roads concerns people and businesses in every corner of Ireland, and a commitment of €4.5 billion for local and regional roads has been made under the national development plan. I am passionate about making our roads safer. In that context, properly maintained roads are safer roads.

These are investments in stronger regions, in greater resilience to the impacts of Brexit and in supporting public transport. Facing into Brexit, it is important that all our transport sectors feed into and complement each other. Connectivity is the key, connecting more people to more places. For example, the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road will connect the new development of the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy with Cork city and the rest of the country. Similarly, the new N69-N21 will not only relieve congestion from the busy tourist and commuter town of Adare, it will also enhance access to Shannon Foynes Port. The planned N6 Galway ring road and the N11-M11 from Kilmacanogue will enable better, faster and more consistent bus services. Of course, the M20 project will substantially complete the Atlantic corridor.

Tourism will play a key role in strengthening rural economics and communities. The tourism sector provides employment for approximately 225,000 people throughout the country and contributes significantly to the development of rural areas. The success of the Mayo and Waterford greenways in particular show the impact that greenways can have on transforming rural communities. In the period up to 2021, almost €108 million will be allocated to Fáilte Ireland for investment in tourism product development. Fáilte Ireland will continue to invest in the experience brands of the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East and in a new brand for the midlands. Tourism Ireland will continue to invest in capabilities to ensure that Ireland really stands out and inspires and motivates people across the world to visit Ireland.

Sport plays a key role in improving the health and well-being of our young people in particular and it is vital that we strive to increase sport participation. The sports capital programme provides funding to voluntary, sporting and community organisations for the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Allocations under the most recent round of the programme were made at the end of last year, when we allocated a total of €60 million to 1,807 different sporting projects.

We will continue to invest in key programmes over the lifetime of the national development programme to support our people and our communities, I am delighted that Project Ireland 2040 commits to establishing a new large-scale sports infrastructure fund for larger projects. The new fund is designed to provide a more structured approach for such funding and €100 million is being provided. The full terms and conditions of the scheme will be finalised in the coming months.

The National Sports Campus has been a very successful development at Abbotstown in Dublin. Its inclusion in Project Ireland 2040 is fantastic and its future planning is an integral part of the development of Irish sport. Phase 2 of the national indoor arena will be completed next year. Construction of a national velodrome and badminton centre is due for completion by 2021. A review of the master plan for the campus's development will be completed this year and will be aligned with wider Government capital planning.

We are also seeking, by means of the national development plan, to mitigate some of the potential implications of Brexit. While we cannot determine the exact implications of Brexit with any degree of certainty at this stage, we do recognise that transport connectivity is crucial and that any disruption to our connectivity will impact on our international trade and tourism sectors.

Project Ireland 2040 sets out a detailed and positive vision for Ireland's transport infrastructure over the next decade. The national development plan will deliver a greener public transport network that will provide high-quality passenger interchange points, which facilitate convenient transfer between efficient and integrated public transport services that connect all parts of the country. All the planned investment in public transport combined will add greatly to the choice and experience of the travelling public, connecting more people with more places, easing congestion in our cities and combating climate change. Following publication, our focus will turn to delivery that achieves value for money for the taxpayer and enables sustained development and growth as set out in the national planning framework.

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