Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he can take any practical action to address commercial or other transport costs thereby assisting economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17251/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has had discussions with his EU colleagues in the context of possible reduction of transport costs throughout the EU by way of economies of scale in the purchase of imports such as fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17252/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he and his EU colleagues can best maximise the purchasing power of the EU in the tourism and transport sectors throughout the EU and the marketing thereof with positive effect on economic recovery throughout the entire EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17253/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has examined any services or costs of services provided by the State deemed to have a negative impact on the transport sector with a view to any rationalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17254/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his expectations in respect of the maximisation of economic activity resulting in job creation throughout the tourism, transport and sporting sectors in the current and future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17256/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 277, inclusive, and 279 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.

In accordance with commitments under the Programme for Government, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is currently conducting a review of all charges levied on businesses, including the transport sector, by Government Departments and their Agencies. My Department is contributing to the Review.

There are very significant practical, economic and political difficulties with the concept of centralised European purchasing of oil and other transport materials and assets. However, at national level, 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 which can be found at www.dttas.ie . 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.