Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 221: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his priorities to ensure the future of a vibrant efficient cost effective transport sector with particular reference to the role of road haulage in economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 225: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied the extent to which Irish road hauliers' costs are higher than those in adjoining jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 225 together.

Irish road haulage costs are influenced by many matters such as supply and demand in the marketplace, fuel and motor taxation as well as regulatory and road use charges under the remit of my Department and its Agencies. As is the case with all motorists, hauliers are obliged to pay tolls, motor and fuel taxation and to pay towards the upkeep of their vehicles so that they remain roadworthy from a road safety perspective. Hauliers must also comply with road safety legislation including the Working Time Directive, which regulates for maximum permissible driver hours over short time periods. I have no information that suggests that Irish road haulage costs are higher than those in adjoining jurisdictions. Some costs are lower in Ireland - hauliers here do not pay time based vignettes or charges.

Looking at freight transport generally, I am acutely aware of the great importance of the freight transport sector to Ireland's economic recovery. My Department engages with air, sea, rail and road freight interests through its establishment of and involvement with the All-Island Freight Forum. This Forum is jointly chaired by my Department and the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development. One of its primary roles is to draw together the Government side and industry stakeholders to identify and implement measures to secure competitive, sustainable and safe freight transport domestically and internationally.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he proposes to address the issue of rising transport costs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13930/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 226: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he plans to use the transport sector to assist economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13932/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 227: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has compared transport costs here with those in other EU states; the main reasons for any disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13933/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 230: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce costs and improve competitiveness in the transport and tourism sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224, 226, 227 and 230 together.

My Department has no direct control of transport costs in general but keeps under review costs arising from the services provided through our agencies. International comparative data on transport costs are not readily available from respected international statistical sources such as Eurostat and the International Transport Forum. Cost competitiveness is a key consideration for Ireland as an open export-oriented economy and transport is one of the many factors influencing that competitiveness.

The Government's plans to improve competitiveness are set out in the Programme for Government and place a heavy emphasis on the delivery of effective transport services. I have also outlined my transport and tourism priorities to 2016 on my Department's website. In addition, the Government's Jobs Initiative includes a number of measures intended to stimulate tourism by increasing the competitiveness of access transport and our tourism product.