Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1727. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in light of the Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport published recently, if it is intended to base investment decisions in the future on usage of transport corridors irrespective of how defective the existing corridors are at present for the traffic using them; his plans to lay down minimum standards for the various types of roads such as national primary, national secondary, regional county roads as well as for rail lines; if there will be a national policy to bring all the road and rail infrastructure up to these minimum standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34536/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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A Draft Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport was published by my Department in August for public consultation. The draft framework was drawn up by a steering group which set out to establish priorities and principles to guide future land transport investment decisions. The findings and conclusions of the work undertaken will contribute to the development of a new multi-annual capital funding framework 2015-2019, subsequent capital funding programmes and investment decisions over the longer term.  

Key areas considered include the link between economic growth and transport investment, current investment levels vis-à-vis past levels and international norms, the funding necessary to keep existing land transport infrastructure at its current standard and the likely scale, nature and impact of transport demand on our network in the medium to long term.

This work, combined with an assessment of transport and demographic trends, provides the basis for the findings of the steering group. The draft report concludes that the key challenge with regard to investment in land transport is securing investment levels consistent with maintaining, renewing and improving a transport network that can efficiently support the economic and social needs of the country. 

Arising from these findings, a set of principles is proposed to frame and prioritise land transport investment decisions. A consultation process is underway seeking views of stakeholders, interested parties and the general public on the findings, conclusions and proposed principles.

The draft report does not set policy. It points to the current constraints within which policy decisions must be made. As such, I hope it leads to an informed debate to advance the best decisions for current and future transport investment in Ireland.