Tithe an Oireachtais An Comhchoiste um Fhorbairt Tuaithe agus Pobail Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste maidir le Beartas Iompair Réigiúnaigh agus Tuaithe Iúil 2019 A leagadh faoi bhráid dhá Theach an Oireachtais 17 Iúil 2019 Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development Report of the Joint Committee on Regional and Rural Transport Policy July 2019 Laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas 17 July 2019 32 RCD 004 Tithe an Oireachtais An Comhchoiste um Fhorbairt Tuaithe agus Pobail Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste maidir le Beartas Iompair Réigiúnaigh agus Tuaithe Iúil 2019 A leagadh faoi bhráid dhá Theach an Oireachtais 17 Iúil 2019 Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development Report of the Joint Committee on Regional and Rural Transport Policy July 2019 Laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas 17 July 2019 32 RCD 004 Report on Regional and Rural Transport Policy TABLE OF CONTENTS Tithe an Oireachtais ........................................................................................................ 1 An Comhchoiste um Fhorbairt Tuaithe agus Pobail ................................................ 1 Houses of the Oireachtas ................................................................................................ 1 Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development ...................................... 1 Tithe an Oireachtais ........................................................................................................ 3 An Comhchoiste um Fhorbairt Tuaithe agus Pobail ................................................ 3 Houses of the Oireachtas ................................................................................................ 3 Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development ...................................... 3 Preface ............................................................................................................................... 3 1. Recommendations ................................................................................................ 5 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 9 3. Background ......................................................................................................... 12 3.1. Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (2015) ................... 13 3.1.1. CEDRA Recommendation 17 (Road Network) ......................................... 13 3.1.2. CEDRA Recommendation 18 (Rural Transport Programme) .................. 13 3.2. Sustaining Viable Rural Communities (2017) (Joint Committee) ..................... 14 4. Action Plan for Rural Development (2017) ................................................... 16 4.1. Rural Transport ................................................................................................... 17 4.2. Flood Relief Measures ......................................................................................... 17 4.3. Engagement With Joint Committee – Key-Issues .............................................. 18 4.3.1. Flooding ..................................................................................................... 18 4.3.2. Eastern/Western Imbalance ..................................................................... 18 4.3.3. Decreasing Populations ............................................................................ 19 4.3.4. Atlantic Economic Corridor ...................................................................... 19 5. National Planning Framework ........................................................................ 20 5.1. Key-Points of the Framework ............................................................................. 20 5.2. Engagement with the Joint Committee – Key Issues ........................................ 22 5.2.1. Regional Imbalance .................................................................................. 23 5.2.2. Connectivity Infrastructure ...................................................................... 23 5.2.3. Border Region ........................................................................................... 24 6. Regional and Rural Transport Policy (1) ...................................................... 25 6.1. National Transport Authority ............................................................................. 25 6.2. Bus Éireann ......................................................................................................... 28 Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development Report on Regional and Rural Transport Policy 6.3. Engagement with the Joint Committee – Key Issues ........................................ 29 6.3.1. The Licensing Process for Bus Services ................................................... 29 6.3.2. Cost and Fares Structure ......................................................................... 30 6.3.3. Infrastructure and Connectivity............................................................... 31 6.3.4. Climate Change Mitigation ...................................................................... 32 6.3.5. Local Link ................................................................................................. 33 6.3.6. Rural vs Urban Fares ............................................................................... 34 6.3.7. Connecting Bus with Rail ......................................................................... 34 6.3.8. School Transport ....................................................................................... 35 6.3.9. Congestion and Timetabling ..................................................................... 36 6.3.10. Bus Shelters .......................................................................................... 36 6.3.11. Defining Commuter Services ................................................................ 37 7. Western Development Commission ................................................................ 39 7.1. Role of the Western Development Commission .................................................. 39 7.2. Engagement with Joint Committee – Key Issues............................................... 40 7.2.1. Knock Airport............................................................................................ 40 7.2.2. TEN-T and the WDC ................................................................................ 41 7.2.3. Rail Freight Services ................................................................................ 42 7.2.4. Transport to Work .................................................................................... 43 8. Regional and Rural Transport Policy (2) ...................................................... 45 8.1. Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport ................................................... 45 8.2. Engagement with the Joint Committee – Key Issues ........................................ 46 8.2.1. Rural Hackneys ........................................................................................ 46 8.2.2. Interconnectivity ....................................................................................... 47 8.2.3. Accessibilty – Bus Stops ........................................................................... 47 8.2.4. Disability ................................................................................................... 48 8.2.5. Emmissions and Environmental issues ................................................... 49 8.2.6. TEN-T ....................................................................................................... 49 9. Correspondence .................................................................................................. 51 9.1. Report on Rural Transport - DTTS ..................................................................... 51 9.2. Update on the Western Rail Corridor - DTTS .................................................... 52 Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development Report on Regional and Rural Transport Policy OPENING STATEMENTS AND SUBMISSIONS ............................................................. 53 10. Action Plan for Rural development ................................................................ 53 10.1. Presentation on the First progress Report, DRCD, August 2017 ............ 53 10.2. Progress Report (Summary), DRCD, August 2017 ......................................... 58 11. The National Planning Framework – Ireland 2040 Our Plan .................... 77 11.1. Damien English TD, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development 77 12. Regional and Rural Transport Policy ............................................................ 82 12.1. Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, NTA (1) ............................................ 82 12.2. Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, NTA (2) ............................................ 88 12.3. Deirdre Hanlon, Assistant Secretary, DTTS ................................................... 93 13. Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail, and Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway – Limerick Railway ................................................................................ 100 13.1. Jim Meade, Chief Executive, Irish Rail 23 May 2018 (1) ............................. 100 13.2. Jim Meade, Chief Executive, Irish Rail (2) 27 November 2018, Carmel Kirby, Clare County Council, John Sydenham, Office of Public Works ............................... 105 13.3. Jim Meade, Chief Executive, Irish Rail