Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 May 2008

4:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce incentives to encourage freight transport by targeting bottlenecks in the road network as recommended by the recently published freight transport report for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17506/08]

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce incentives to encourage freight transport by involving hauliers in transport planning as recommended by the recently published freight transport report for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17515/08]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce incentives to encourage freight transport by using the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council to apply for EU funding through the Marco Polo II — Motorways of the Sea programmes, as recommended by the recently published freight transport report for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/08]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the recently published freight transport report for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17496/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 21, 23 and 31 together.

My Department has recently received a report from Inter-trade Ireland, in association with the Joint Business Council, which addresses key issues and makes recommendations in terms of freight transport, both within and beyond the island of Ireland. The report is a very comprehensive and substantial document. The efficient movement of goods is recognised by my Department to be of crucial importance to the Irish economy and our competitiveness.

My Department is considering the recommendations in the report. Key recommendations relate to improving the forecasting of future capacity requirements, improving access to ports and airports, addressing urban congestion, making progress on improving key road corridors and making use of European funded programmes. In this regard, the all-island dimension to the issues raised is well recognised, as are the possibilities that may present through the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council.

Pending completion of my Department's analysis of the report, it is too early to respond in any detail to its recommendations. Nonetheless, I very much welcome the report which will help inform policy development in my Department on the road freight sector.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I agree it is an important report containing some excellent recommendations. One simple recommendation it makes is in regard to night-time construction of motorways. It refers specifically to construction work on road widening, particularly on the M50. We need to change our ways. On many occasions roads which are being improved are left abandoned, with nobody working on them in the evenings or on Saturdays or Sundays. The work only starts when people must get to and from work. We need a sea change with regard to how we operate. Will the Minister, in conjunction with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, drive forward this agenda in whatever capacity or with whatever powers he can?

The third recommendation refers to getting lorries in and out of ports, and specifically to access to Drogheda port, the Cork road system around the Jack Lynch tunnel and the Dublin outer orbital route, which would take pressure off Dublin and improve communications between Drogheda, Navan, Kildare and elsewhere.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy states, it is an important report that puts forward many recommendations and ideas, which we are examining. On the questions it raises, I am aware of all the points the Deputy highlights from the report in regard to port access at Drogheda, the road system in Cork and the Dublin outer orbital route. The Deputy will be aware that the National Roads Authority is examining the outer orbital route and assessing the possibility of advancing it, at least to design stage, as quickly as possible. It is not included in Transport 21.

With regard to port access, this report will be taken in conjunction with the official report on ports policy that was published some years ago. This is a useful addition to that report. We will carefully note its contents and respond in due course.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Reference is made in the report to the national traffic information system that operates in the midlands of the UK. Is this something we could replicate? While the local authorities do their best, should we have some type of national system, particularly for road freight?

There is a recommendation regarding the Leinster orbital route which will run from Drogheda, through Navan in the Minister's heartland and, we hope, on towards Arklow and Gorey. What stage is that project at in terms of finance and preparation?

As he is set to continue in charge of the Department, does the Minister intend to take any initiative on rail freight, given that we have such an appalling performance in international and EU terms? Much more could be done in this regard. Will the Minister take some initiative, even a fiscal one, in next year's budget?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Rail freight is an issue that has raised its head in recent years and we are considering it in the context of the sustainable travel and transport action plan. To be honest with the Deputy, I had a number of discussions with Iarnród Éireann on the matter. It made efforts some years ago to increase the level of rail freight but these efforts were not successful. It is not a convenient way of carrying much of the freight in Ireland. However, with the price of petrol and diesel reaching $120 per barrel, the position might change.

Freight transport by rail is not quite as simple as it is on the Continent, where one can send freight by rail over very long distances and through various countries. The problem in Ireland is that it is not sufficiently convenient or economical to transport freight by rail, with the exception of freight that comes in vast quantities. I hope this will change and if I can do anything to promote rail freight under the sustainable travel and transport plan, I will be delighted to do so.

The outer orbital route or Leinster orbital route is under consideration but is not included in Transport 21. No funding has been arranged for it. It will obviously form part of the review of Transport 21 in 2010 and 2011. The national tracking system is worthwhile. The NRA is doing some work on it in respect of real-time information.

Deputy O'Dowd referred to roadworks and road widening at night. I accept that nobody wants that in built-up residential areas but it should be the norm elsewhere. I have said before in the House that I do not approve of restrictions to planning permissions to the effect that people can only work for six or seven hours in the middle of the day. We must get real about such matters.