Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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203. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which he continues to monitor transport costs in this country with those in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46638/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department monitors the relevant and varied costs associated with transport use in Ireland for both users and the exchequer on an on-going basis and as required.  Analysis of comparable transport costs against other jurisdictions is generally only undertaken for specific projects or needs rather than on an on-going basis. I would point out that national transport costs are driven by a number of factors including demographic, economic, spatial and cultural trends and thus any comparison between jurisdictions can be problematic. My Department does seek to stay abreast of any international research which tracks comparable costs. The various agencies and regulators in the transport sector also monitor the relevant costs of transport in Ireland and may do cross-comparison analysis with other jurisdictions as they see fit.  A number of user transport costs are set independently by the relevant regulators.

I should also point out that my Department has also carried out some cross-national analysis of transport investment levels as part of the work underpinning the draft Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport. This analysis is publically available on the Department's website through the consultation process (Background Paper No.10) and the final Policy Framework is due to be published in Q1 of 2015.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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204. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which the transport sector in this country is affected by unfair competition from outside the jurisdiction; if he has a particular strategy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46640/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The transport sector is governed by sectoral transport legislation, both national and European, and by general competition law.  All transport operators in the State are subject to these laws.  In some cases operators legally based outside of our jurisdiction but which operate transport operations within the State may have a different cost base than transport operators based within the state. My Department keeps up to date on all aspects and developments in the transport sector, including with a view to identifying any emerging challenges.