The Department of Transport strongly supported the expansion of Dublin Airport and efforts to lift its passenger cap in briefing papers provided to parties involved in government formation talks last month.
The documents, released on Friday, recommended moves to optimise the existing capacity of State airports “and also ensure timely planning applications by the State airport bodies to plan for enhancements in infrastructure to facilitate the needs of passengers, cargo and the industry, enabling expansion of air service connections to all relevant markets delivering wider economic benefits for Ireland”.
The department backed continued support of DAA “to progress applications in relation to planning matters, including amending conditions to facilitate an increase of the 32-million passenger cap, its capital investment programme and the North Runway Relevant Action [planning application]”.
It proposes a review of national aviation policy to consider “new challenges facing the sector, including decarbonisation and emerging technologies, to ensure the sustainable development of Ireland’s international connectivity and strategically important aviation sector”.
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It warned party leaders Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s Simon Harris, and their advisers, there was no funding ring-fenced for key roads projects announced by the previous government, such as upgrading the A5 road link to the northwest.
In February last year, the then coalition party leaders Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan unveiled plans to provide €600 million to the A5 northwest transport corridor. However, in the briefing papers, the department said “the funding source to match that commitment is not clear”.
Without that clarity, funding for the A5 would be “at the expense” of other road projects, it said.
“The Government has announced that there will be a review of the national development plan later this year which could see additional funding allocated”, it noted.
There were “four issues within the wider roads programme which require consideration”, including the A5 project, it added.
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It said Cork Northern Distributor Road was a major project that was likely to cost in excess of €200 million, but was “not currently funded for substantial delivery under any programme”.
“The Great Island Connectivity Scheme [R624 to Cobh] is another major project [€200m plus] which is not currently funded for substantial delivery under any programme.”
The department said the 2021 National Development Plan envisaged a stepped increase in funding towards protection and renewal work on the roads networks.
“However, both national and regional and local roads networks could benefit from an increased allocation of funding toward protection and renewal over the 2026 to 2030 period, potentially an additional €300 million to €500 million.”
It backed a recommendation to “develop a new sustainable mobility action plan”, previously endorsed by Mr Ryan.
Its key element is promotion of “sustainable modes and transport-oriented development to address congestion, improve air quality and reduce noise, and enhance attractiveness and accessibility of cities, neighbourhoods and town centres”. It includes measures on active travel, such as cycling and walking.
Mr Ryan had accused his coalition partners, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of stalling efforts to scale up sustainable mobility after a memo from a special taskforce on the draft plan was excluded from the last cabinet meeting prior to the November election.
The department backed moves to “realise [the] potential of shared mobility services through development of a network of mobility hubs starting in cities and major towns”.
Costed at €40 million last year, this involves establishing 200 “mobility hubs” across the country to encourage people to share access to e-bikes and electric vehicles – and support efforts to curb transport emissions.
The document includes a series of measures to improve EV uptake, including a move to develop a new national EV infrastructure strategy “which ensures EV charging is ahead of demand and in line with EU-mandated obligations, including neighbourhood charging for those who do not have access to home charging and ‘on route’ charging across the main transport arteries”.
It backs moves to “re-energise the EV vehicles market to ensure achievement of climate action plan targets and EU obligations, including measures that increase take-up [of] EVs amongst captive car users in rural, remote and low-income cohorts - and measures to grow a more affordable secondhand market”.
It calls for “a data strategy” for EV rollout, meeting user and EU requirements, and enabling development of apps providing reliable information on charging including “location, price and availability”.
On motor taxes, it proposes measures to decarbonise transport and incentivise sustainable mobility – “while shoring up fiscal shortfall arising from greater EV take-up”.
