Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which comparisons have been made between transport costs here and those prevailing in other jurisdictions; the degree if any to which such costs can be reduced thereby improving economic competitiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26798/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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International comparative data on transport costs are not readily available from respected international statistical sources such as Eurostat and the International Transport Forum.

My Department has no direct control of transport costs in general but keeps under review costs arising from the services provided through our agencies.

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 priorities to 2016 for the transport, tourism and sports sectors on my Department's website.