Results 18,421-18,440 of 26,152 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: No doubt that is music to the Minister's ears.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I call Deputy Cathal Crowe who has approximately seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister was already hinting at going in that direction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Irish Rail at the time was very competitive on price if people booked online. We all use rail. Punctuality on Irish Rail is very good and the staff are very good, but the broadband is very poor and mobile coverage is non-existent. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. The Minister should be going back to Irish Rail to ask what it can do to enhance broadband, to get mobile coverage and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have three members and one non-member waiting to contribute, so I ask speakers to try to keep within the seven minutes. I know it is a hard ask.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister set a parameter of 4.15 p.m. A number of members need to get in. I would not want the clock to run down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Horkan for his indulgence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I applaud the Senator for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: In fairness, Minister, I think the Estimates are coming in on 9 February, so we will have a chance to go through them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Senator Buttimer wish to pose a question to the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Well done. There is €360 million for active travel. The programme for Government refers to a 2:1 ratio between public transport and roads. Is that both the revenue and capital budget or just the capital budget?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is the €360 million part of that 2:1 or outside of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: With due respect, public transport versus roads is well above 2:1 in reality. Some €360 million a year brings it well above 2:1 overall. In one way, I am surprised that €360 million is not included in the 2:1 because the bulk of it is capital. Many projects have very little headroom, especially roads. I want to deal with roads. We have dealt with rail. We have very poor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister has name-checked the national planning framework at length today. I have looked at the national planning framework. The two top ones are compact growth, which we all agree with, and enhanced regional accessibility. It refers to all regions in the country having a high degree of access to Dublin as well as to each other. Not every route has to look east. Accessibility can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is the Minister's view at this stage on the M20 project?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: A dual carriageway?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: What about dual carriageways? The second objective under the national planning framework is to connect cities. The Minister speaks about the cities growing. Cork, Limerick and Galway must be accounted for. Many of the areas on the route from Limerick to Cork are treacherous, particularly between Charleville and Mallow. Bypasses are needed, but equally we have to address travel time and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: If TII comes up with a proposal and is talking about a motorway or dual carriageway, will the Minister oppose that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister said that already. The national planning framework, which he has quoted, specifically addresses enhanced regional accessibility and specifically mentions linking Cork and Limerick. Ultimately, if we are to have proper balanced regional development, we must connect the cities. I accept that we must have compact growth within the cities.