Transport: Transport’s slow future
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Maintaining existing roads and railways and extending the Luas are the main priorities for transport’s reduced capital budget. The Government’s decision to prioritise health, education and restoring the economy means that €4.36 billion will be spent on transport until 2016. The ‘Infrastructure and capital investment 2012-2016 medium-term exchequer framework’ outlines the transport projects and initiatives that are to be funded until 2016, including four major road public-private partnerships (PPPs), two on which work has already begun. This contrasts with the boom-time National...[full story]
Transport: The future of Ireland’s airports
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012eolas examines the options for reforming the structure and funding of state and regional airports. Neither Cork nor Shannon airports should be privatised, according to a leaked report currently being examined by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. While the McCarthy report into state assets recommended that Dublin, Cork and Shannon (all operated by the Dublin Airport Authority) be privatised, the leaked report, by Booz consultants, recommends that Shannon be separated from the DAA. The west of Ireland airport should be given a new ownership structure (e.g. a public holding company of local...[full story]
Transport: Creative ports policy required
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012The future of state-owned ports is under consideration but they are unlikely to stay in their current formation. eolas reports. The future structure and ownership of Ireland’s 10 state-owned ports is yet to be decided. However, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has indicated that the department is currently considering the recommendations in the McCarthy report into state assets, as well as responses to the department’s ports policy review. The 10 state-owned ports are: Bantry Bay, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford and Wicklow. Rosslare...[full story]
Transport: NGVA’s Manuel Lage on natural gas vehicles
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012General Manager of the Natural and bio Gas Vehicles Association (NGVA) Europe, Manuel Lage, talks to Stephen Dineen about the roll-out of natural gas vehicles (NGVs). In his spare time he is an historian of the car industry, and for Manuel Lage a new chapter in global transport is being written. Natural gas is becoming a mainstream alternative transport fuel. There are 1.4 million NGVs in Europe and over 13 million worldwide. In 2010 there was 6 per cent growth and the 2050 Eurogas Roadmap predicts NGVs will represent 9 per cent of the passenger car market and 33 per cent of freight...[full story]
Transport: Cheaper fares with integrated ticket
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Passengers in the greater Dublin area can now use a single ticket on Dublin Bus, Luas, Dart and commuter rail services, eolas reports. London’s Oyster card, Hong Kong’s Octopus card and Singapore’s Ez-Link card are examples of integrated ticketing that were examined by transport officials before its implementation in Ireland. The Leap Card was launched in December following nine years of preparation and a reported total spend of €55.5 million. It will allow travellers to switch between Dublin Bus, Luas, Dart and commuter rail services using one card which can be topped up at...[full story]
Transport: Transport spending
Friday, August 19th, 2011eolas overviews the transport sector in advance of capital spending decisions by the Government. Since he became Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar has made it clear that the capital envelope available to transport (€1,700 million) will be reduced due to the requirement to decrease the country’s deficit by €5 billion by 2015, and to meet other EU-IMF spending criteria outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding. However, he has said that “this doesn’t mean we should spend nothing and stop all investment.” A spokesman for the department explained that following the revised estimates...[full story]
Departmental dossier: Transport, Tourism and Sport
Friday, August 19th, 2011The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has had its current structure since June 2011. Transport first became the principal policy domain of a department in 1959, having been part of the Department of Industry and Commerce until then. Since 1959 it has undergone 10 name changes. This department’s status has arguably risen with the transfer of tourism in March this year and the jobs initiative in June, which emphasised tourism’s role in economic recovery e.g. through the reduction in VAT on tourism-related services. The department has six sub-sections: land transport and investment;...[full story]
Transport: Transport delays
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010eolas reviews the Government’s transport infrastructure plans for the next six years. The focus on transport infrastructure “has shifted” from roads to public transport, Brian Cowen said earlier this year. The 2006 National Development Plan (NDP) had allocated almost €33 billion to transport. However, in July the Government’s ‘New Infrastructure Priorities 2010-2016’ document announced that the transport budget has been reduced by 35.5 per cent, to €11.7 billion. This is divided almost equally between €5.77 billion for public transport and €5.97 billion for roads....[full story]
