Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed nature of the relationship between the NTA's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area and the new national planning framework; and his views on whether this document will be redundant once the new NPF is finalised. [8518/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the preparation of a Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). In preparing its Transport Strategy, the NTA is required to have regard to a number of matters, including the National Spatial Strategy and local authority development plans. The Act also specifically requires the NTA to ensure the Strategy is consistent with the GDA's regional, spatial and economic strategy, including any relevant regional planning guidelines. The Strategy itself is subject to update and review every six years and at each review point, adjustments can be made to reflect relevant prevailing circumstances. Both my Department and the NTA have been involved in the process of the development of the new NPF and this input will continue over the coming months in finalising the work. The Transport Strategy states its purpose as establishing "the framework for transport provision necessary to achieve the land use vision set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines". That land use vision is the statutory responsibility of relevant local authorities, the regional assembly and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at national policy level. The crucial link between the GDA transport strategy and the forthcoming NPF will arise at regional level. There is much to be done therefore before the impact on the Transport Strategy can be assessed.

I should also point out in the context of this work that the Issues and Choices paper recently published as part of the public consultation for the NPF- Ireland 2040: Our Planmakes reference to the unique statutory relationship between the GDA regional spatial and economic strategy and the GDA Transport Strategy. The paper notes that an extension to other parts of the country of the approach that already exists in the GDA would greatly strengthen the levels of integration between land use planning and transport planning across the country.