6.5 | Integrating

6.5 | Integrating Environmental Considerations into the Implementation of NIFTI

The key issue with continuing with SIFLT is that its Investment Priorities are reflective of a different context. This is true both in terms of investment levels, with SIFLT developed during a period of fiscal constraint, and with regard to overarching Government policy, with the publication of the NPF and Climate Action Plan in the years since 2015.

NIFTI sets the framework for future investment in transport infrastructure in Ireland. Any projectlevel developments which require consents that may give rise to likely significant effects on the environment will need to be accompanied by one or more of the following environmental assessments:

Alternative 2: With Plan – Update SIFLT

One solution to ensure that future investment reflects the changed context since the publication of SIFLT is to update the Investment Priorities to ensure their alignment with the NPF. Within NIFTI, four Investment Priorities have been identified which will help ensure that future investment in transport enables the delivery of the NSOs:

ᴏ Environmental Impact Assessment Report, if deemed necessary under the relevant legislation

ᴏ Ecological Impact Assessment Report

ᴏ Natura Impact Statement, if deemed necessary under the relevant legislation

ᴏ Decarbonisation

ᴏ Flood Risk Assessment Report

ᴏ Protection and Renewal

ᴏ Environmental Report.15

ᴏ Mobility of People and Goods in Urban Areas

ᴏ Enhanced Regional and Rural Connectivity

Updating SIFLT with these four priorities helps to ensure transport investment supports the NPF, and the inclusion of decarbonisation better reflects the Climate Action Plan and the increased urgency of that policy objective throughout Irish society.

National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland | Project Ireland 2040

However, continuing with a ranked approach to Investment Priorities does not reflect the changed fiscal context, where protection and renewal costs will largely be met in the coming years and greater focus must be placed on how best to invest funding above this amount. Moreover, strictly applying a ranked set of priorities could lead to protection and renewal being pursued to the detriment of the other priorities. For example, protecting and renewing existing assets will not be sufficient to deliver the sustainable mobility options required to decarbonise the transport sector.