John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

873. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if data are available to demonstrate the impact the transfer of freight from rail to road has had over the past five to ten years on traffic volumes and congestion on main routes and in urban areas. [12870/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that data on changes in road and rail freight is available up to 2016 from the Central Statistics Office's Transport Omnibus, which is published annually. For ease of reference, I have provided a table containing estimates of rail and road freight for 2006 - 2016:

Table 1: Rail and Road Freight Measures in Tonne-ms (millions)

Freight volumes have fallen in general over the time period, while rail freight has been relatively consistent as a percentage of total freight.

The Deputy may also be interested in our Department's 2017 publication The Costs of Congestion - An Analysis of the Greater Dublin Area, which estimated the costs, in terms of time lost to road users, of aggravated congestion in the GDA.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

874. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimates that have been factored into the National Planning Framework with regard to the level of road and rail freight volumes over the period of the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and extending to Project Ireland 2040 in view of the population projections contained in both. [12871/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The estimates of population used in the National Planning Framework and the decisions which underpin them are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

In the light of the predicted population growth and distribution as set out in the National Planning Framework, my Department will in conjunction with its agencies consider the implications of such growth in terms of roads, public transport, rail, ports and airports.

National transport models will be updated to ensure that the selection and sequencing of projects support the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.