Speech by Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, TD at the press briefing in Galway on the National Development Plan 2007-2013

Date: 25 January 2007

I am delighted to be here in Galway this afternoon - the principal economic and population centre of the West. As the gateway city, Galway's strengths include a proud commitment to the Irish language and its traditions, a history of economic growth, its third level education facilities, its existing enterprise base, its strong tourism industry and its excellent location and quality of life. Like many of the key gateway centres in the country, a developmental challenge is to maintain that quality of life and competitiveness and further renew the city's critical role into the future.

The National Development Plan 2007-2013 - "Transforming Ireland - A better Quality of Life for All", launched by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, the Tánaiste Michael McDowell, TD and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, TD on Tuesday last, is about the future of this nation. It has at its core, investment and other policies to provide for a better quality of life for all the population, urban and rural.

The Plan is based on the continuation of excellent economic management and sound public finances, which will deliver the resources to fund the ambitious, economic and social programme set out in the Plan. It provides us with a framework for developing spatial planning, economic growth, support infrastructure and environmental sustainability. Under the Plan, an investment of €184 billion will be made in this country over the next seven years. The money will be spent on a wide range of projects, ranging from roads and public transport to social inclusion and social housing.

The Plan sets out a strong strategy to support regional development in line with the National Spatial Strategy, based on continuing major investment in the Dublin area as Ireland's international gateway but with a major emphasis on development in the other eight gateway centres. This investment is complemented by a commitment to a land use/planning strategy that will maximise the value of the investment and help to promote a better quality of life for all.

As the economy has evolved, so too has the development challenge. Against a very different economic backdrop, earlier plans emphasised the need to create employment, to get our economy moving. That challenge has been met.

A key element of the Plan is the substantial investment provision for transport. The Plan endorses Transport 21, the Government's capital investment framework for transport for the ten years from 2006-2015. With a budget in excess of €34 billion, Transport 21 is the largest infrastructural programme ever undertaken in this State. Since its launch, at the end of 2005, the implementing agencies under my Department have made significant progress in delivering the projects identified in Transport 21.

All of the elements of Transport 21 for the period 2007 to 2013 are included in the new NDP. Over the life of this Plan, total investment under the transport programme will be some €32.9 billion, with the Exchequer and PPP resources providing €26.9 billion of this figure.

This comprises investment over the seven years of almost €13.3 billion in national roads including toll based PPP investment of €1.865 billion and just under

€13 billion in public transport. A further €1.8 billion will be invested in the State airports and €450 million at the commercial ports from the resources of the companies concerned.

One of the key objectives of the Plan is to remove the remaining transport infrastructure bottlenecks that constrain our economic development and inhibit balanced regional development.

In the Galway region, the NDP will address this issue in a number of ways. On roads, the Dublin to Galway motorway is on target to be completed by 2010, while planning of the Atlantic Road Corridor, linking the gateways of Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford is being undertaken by the National Roads Authority (NRA). In recognition of the need to move ahead quickly with the Atlantic Road Corridor, I am delighted to announce that the Government has provided for an acceleration of the funding within Transport 21 for construction to commence on the N18 Ennis to Galway route to begin in early 2008 - three years ahead of when originally planned. The consequence of this, is that the overall Atlantic Road Corridor will be completed significantly ahead of the original schedule.

As a first step in enhancing the N18, I will be opening the first phase of the Ennis Bypass tomorrow. This Bypass involves the construction of 14 kilometres of new dual carriageway and will provide uninterrupted travel, past what has become, in recent years, a major bottleneck. The Bypass will provide relief for vehicles from Galway, Limerick and Shannon and will alleviate traffic congestion within Ennis town itself.

Progress continues to be made on the Galway to Dublin major inter-urban route with the completion of the first section of the N6 Kinnegad/Athlone to Tyrellspass scheme in December 2006. In reality, we now have a high quality dual carriageway from the M50 interchange to Tyrellspass. Phase 2 from Kilbeggan to Athlone, involving 29 kilometres of dual carriageway, which will bypass the towns and villages of Kilbeggan, Horseleap and Moate, is also under construction and is due for completion in 2008.

One of the current challenges facing Galway city and county is the traffic congestion. Under Transport 21 we have seen the completion of the Loughrea Bypass with construction commencing this year on new bypasses of Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Oranmore as part of the Galway / Ballinasloe project on the Galway to Dublin motorway. While bypasses of Tuam, Claregalway, Athenry and the Ballinasloe/Athlone motorway section are proceeding through the planning process - with an excess of €62 million being allocated this year. The acceleration of funding on the Atlantic Road Corridor will result in the Galway City Outer Bypass being constructed earlier than planned and in this year's allocations, €1.5 million has been allocated to advance the planning of this important project.

Transport 21 will also tackle congestion in Galway by enhancing the public transport infrastructure. The development of a commuter rail service between Galway and Athenry, new stations at Oranmore and Sixmilebridge and a rail service between Ennis/Tuam as part of the Western Rail Corridor to Claremorris and eventually to Sligo, will support an alternative public transport service for the city and county. Line clearance work has commenced and physical track renewal on this important piece of infrastructure will start this year.

Iarnród Éireann will also improve services on the line between Galway and Dublin. One hundred and fifty new railcars are in the process of being introduced into the intercity network. These enhancements will see hourly services on the Galway-Dublin route at peak times and two-hourly services in off-peak.

The creation of an effective bus-based public transport network, building on recent fleet investment and involving widespread bus prioritisation measures will also ease the congestion in the city of Galway. Already some bus lanes, for example on the Dublin Road are in operation and more will follow. My Department has been working closely with the Local Authorities in Galway and will provide any support necessary for further development of bus priority measures.

The Government is providing significant funding, under this NDP, to address the issue of balanced regional development. The enhancement of transport infrastructure nationally and locally is absolutely vital and under Transport 21, Galway and the West will be supported and encouraged to grow and maintain its economic success and allow its citizens to enjoy the quality of life this area can and does provide.

ENDS