Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has published the draft National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland, which sets out the path for the Department of Transport’s investment in a long-term land transport strategy.
The department is now seeking feedback from the public and interested stakeholders on the framework. The consultation will help shape how infrastructure is delivered in rural communities.
The framework seeks to ensure that investment in land transport “delivers a high-performing network and supports the delivery of national spatial planning and climate change policies”.
It aims “to align with the National Planning Framework and Climate Action Plan while setting out strategic priorities for transport investment in order to guide the types of projects that will be developed in the future”.
Aims of the transport strategy
Minister Ryan explained further: “The land transport network connects communities across our island.
The output of this consultation will help shape this high-level investment framework and investment priorities, which will determine how we deliver infrastructure within and between our cities, towns and rural communities in a sustainable manner over the coming decades.
“As transport is a key enabler of our spatial and climate change policies, your views will inform how transport supports sustainable social, environmental and economic development nationwide.”
The consultation will run until midnight on Friday, May 28. The draft National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland can be found online.
All submissions to the consultation will be published on the department’s website unless otherwise specified.
Transport in rural development policy
The government’s new rural development policy – ‘Our Rural Future’ – outlines a commitment to protecting and expanding regional connectivity and connectivity between towns and villages in rural Ireland.
A ‘Sustainable Rural Mobility Plan’ is to be developed, according to the document, which will introduce a public transport service standard “under which all settlements over a certain size in terms of population, combined with employment or education places, will have a service connecting them to the national public transport system”.
The government said it also plans to further develop the Local Link service and to pilot new transport initiatives “to enhance the quality of life for people of all ages living in rural areas, including people with disabilities”.
In 2021, the Department of Transport, in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland), will be launching a strategic rail review of the network on the island of Ireland.
The document also notes that while cycling networks are “mostly associated with urban travel, there is huge potential within and between rural towns and villages, particularly in the hinterland of rural towns”.
NTA allocates over €72 million to councils
Recently, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Minister Ryan announced spending totalling €72.8m for 340 sustainable transport projects in 19 local authorities.
The funding is in addition to the multi-annual active travel investment programme announced on February 11, which has already designated €240 million to Dublin, the GDA and regional cities.
The announcement is “the first ever major active travel investment programme for rural Ireland”.
The €72.8 million is greater than the entire 2019 funding for national walking and cycling programme, according to the NTA.
The NTA had originally earmarked €50 million for this scheme but due to the volume of project proposals being developed by local authorities, it has been increased.
The authority will be tasked with overseeing and supporting the development of the mobility infrastructure across all projects.
It will also ensure that projects are “accessible, age-friendly and maximise comfort to people of all ages and abilities”.