John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific timelines for the publication of the NTA's integrated implementation plan for the greater Dublin area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25394/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) "Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035" provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) over the next two decades.  The measures proposed in the Strategy are linked to the NTA's assessment of current and projected levels of travel demand across the region and they will be also subject to a number of influencing factors including funding availability.

In line with legislation, the NTA's Strategy will be supported and given effect through a series of successive implementation plans.  Each implementation plan will be developed for a six-year period within the overall timeframe of the 20-year Strategy.  An implementation plan will set out the investment priorities and proposals over for the following six years, having regard to the overall Strategy, and the progress already achieved on implementation.

In order to ensure that the priorities set out in Implementation Plan adequately reflect the significantly increased available funding that will now be made available for transport investment, it was considered appropriate to await the publication of the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Planning Framework (NPF) before finalising the Implementation Plan.  Following the publication earlier this year of Project Ireland 2040 (comprising both the NPF and the NDP), the NTA is now in a position to finalise a draft Integrated Implementation Plan for the next 6 year period. I understand that work on the draft Plan is underway and NTA will publish it for public consultation later this year.