Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the changes in the preparatory analysis undertaken prior to the construction of public transport projects under Transport 21, that will be introduced in view of commitments given in the programme for Government to consider environmental impacts; the Department that will be given responsibility for this analysis. [18118/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport has recently issued 'Guidelines on a Common Appraisal Framework for Transport Projects and Programmes' to its agencies. The Guidelines apply to all Exchequer funded and PPP projects in the transport sector. Project appraisals are carried out by the relevant implementing agency. The appraisals are subject to audit by the Department of Transport.

The Guidelines set out the criteria to be used for cost benefit analysis and multi-criteria analysis, including environmental impacts. The criteria to be assessed under the environmental heading are: air quality, noise and vibration, landscape and visual quality, biodiversity, cultural heritage, land use and water resources.

My Department has asked each implementing agency to report on their experience in using the Guidelines by end April 2008, after which it will complete a review and make any necessary modifications to the Common Appraisal Framework. That review will also consider whether any further changes are needed to give full effect to commitment in the Government Programme.