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

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which transport costs have been identified in the context of the implementation of national economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57654/12]

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

The Government's plans to address the economic difficulties facing all elements of the economy are set out in the Programme for Government and place a heavy emphasis on the delivery of effective transport services. 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.  

The predominant element of transport costs is fuel. My Department has no direct control over this cost but keeps under review all costs over which we do have an influence, including the cost of services provided through our agencies. In this context, my Department is engaged in an initiative  to reduce, where feasible, the administrative cost to business of complying with transport legislation. In addition, the Minister for Finance announced in his Budget Statement  the introduction of a rebate on diesel for hauliers with effect from 1 July 2013 in order to assist the competitiveness of this key industry.  

In general, transport demand is primarily derived from the outputs of other economic sectors. One would expect increases in demand and employment within the transport sector to result from increased economic outputs generally.