IBEC welcomes consultation on sustainable travel and transport

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) has today welcomed the launch of the Department of Transport’s consultation document on sustainable travel and transport.

IBEC transport executive Paul Sweetman said: “A structured and planned approach to managing Ireland’s infrastructure deficiencies and chronic congestion is essential. The Department’s initiative on sustainable travel and transport has the potential to further promote policies, put forward in the National Development Plan, Transport 21 and the National Spatial Strategy.

“The difficulties we are experiencing in transport are a result of decades of poor planning. The latest World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report highlights Ireland’s poor infrastructure as a serious competitive disadvantage.

“The quality of our road network is ranked 54th in the world and average peak-hour vehicle speeds in Dublin are only 16.5km/hr, compared to over 27km/hr in Belfast and 40km/hr in Cologne.

“Tackling congestion and encouraging people away from private transport, where appropriate, is an enormous challenge. In urban areas, 70% of car owners say they cannot operate without their vehicle, rising to over 85% in rural areas.

“Ireland has a unique population distribution, with a mix of heavily populated urban centres and very low-density rural areas. A one-solution-fits-all approach is neither appropriate nor sustainable.

“Our quality of life is highly dependent on the efficient movement of goods into and through our towns and cities.

“We cannot expect to restrict the movement of heavy-goods-vehicles and continue to reap the benefits of the goods they supply. Proposals and policies put forward must be realistic and balanced.”