Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to fast-track procurement for and delivery of transport infrastructure projects in the north-west to boost regional development, employment and connectivity in response to Brexit and the impact of Covid-19 in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29515/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Transport investment in all the major cities including Galway is guided by the development of the metropolitan area transport strategies. This move toward evidence based, plan-led transport planning for our major cities is to be welcomed and allows for consideration of all relevant issues and the potential role all modes of transport can play in addressing those issues. I would also note that providing this type of long-term investment framework represents international best practice in the area of transport planning.

I would also point out that the National Transpoirt Authority (NTA) works collaboratively with local authorities outside the Galway Metropolitan Area on a regular basis. It has worked successfully on an administrative, non-statutory basis to assist several local authorities across the North Western region in preparing transport related strategies or implementing transport related projects.

I am eager to see progress on the delivery of the Galway Transport Strategy and welcome the non-statutory consultations held last year on two of the key Galway BusConnects corridors. I look forward to the delivery of much improved active travel infrastructure in the next few years as well as improvements to the commuter rail network, such as the proposals in relation to Ceannt Station, Oranmore Station and indeed the Athenry to Galway rail corridor generally. I note that as it is now six years since the publication of the Galway Transport Strategy a review is likely warranted and I believe that such a review could commence next year.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is undertaking a Strategic Rail Review. This Review, for which my Department in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and relevant Stakeholders such as Iarnród Éireann, Translink and the National Transport Authority developed the terms of reference, will be on an all-island rail network basis.

The Review will consider all issues in relation to inter-urban and inter-regional rail connectivity, including the potential for high-/higher speed(s), rail freight and, the Deputy may wish to note, improved connectivity to the North-West. This will be one of the most significant reviews of the rail network on the island in many years and will provide a framework to develop a much-improved rail network in the years ahead.

For the Deputy’s information, work in the Review should commence in the summer and while the ultimate duration of the review will be determined by the work programmes submitted by tenderers, it is a requirement of the published request for tender that the work take no longer than 12 months in total.

The National Development Plan (NDP), which is currently being reviewed, sets out the current funding provision and the priorities for development. The NDP names the major projects that are to be progressed within the period of the plan and TII delivers on these projects with its local authority partners in so far as funding, resources, processes and procedure allows.

Projects are also delivered under the requirements of the public spending code and project business cases are assessed at the relevant decision gates, based on the scheme objectives, including regional development and connectivity, amongst other objectives.

On the smaller projects, such as pavement and safety, these projects are selected based on national reviews and on a needs basis.