Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has examined the impact of poor local and regional road conditions on investment, tourism and job creation in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67130/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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An efficient and integrated transport system, with adequate capacity and levels of service comparable to other countries with which we compete, is vital to move both people and goods quickly, effectively, and sustainably. While specific issues relating to national and regional roads are more properly a matter for the Minister for Transport, I am conscious of the impacts that our transport infrastructure can have on the enterprise base, and in particular on investment in rural or isolated regions.

These issues are nuanced and affect different regions of the country and sectors of the economy, including tourism, in different ways. My Department, through its engagement with its enterprise development agencies, monitors the infrastructure needs of enterprise in areas where infrastructural issues have been identified as a concern for enterprises as they consider investment.

Where relevant, this includes issues identified with specific roads, as well as monitoring more broadly the delivery of other transport infrastructure to support regional enterprise. I am aware that there are some cases in which work to improve our transport infrastructure has been slower than anticipated.

Accelerating infrastructure delivery is a key focus of Government, including through the establishment of an Infrastructure Taskforce and an Infrastructure Division within the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER). In July, DPER published its Report on Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement with Emerging Themes on Infrastructure, which includes analysis of key barriers to infrastructure delivery in Ireland. This document will inform a Final Report and Action Plan on Accelerating Infrastructure, which will set out concrete actions to support more efficient infrastructure delivery.