Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has an estimate of the value of transport networks to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21011/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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While the transport network is central to all economic activity in the State, I am not aware of any exercise which has sought to quantify its overall value to the economy.

However the NRA estimate, that the monies invested in roads to date are, and will continue into the future, to pay economic dividends of multiples of their costs. On average, road investment over the last decade is giving a return of about three times the cost of the infrastructure contributing more than €30 billion in direct transport user benefits. These transport benefits are reflected in lower transport costs and access to wider labour markets, raising productivity and reducing costs to industry. This has helped to make Ireland a more cost-efficient place to do business than would otherwise have been the case.

A recent submission by the Construction Industry Council prepared by DKM and Goodbody's reiterated the importance of the economic return on investment for Transport Infrastructure Projects.