2.8 National Ports Policy

2.7 Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net Zero: Towards Systems that Work for People and the Planet

Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net Zero: Towards Systems that Work for People and the Planet was published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in October 2022. The report highlights the issue of increasing car use and emissions because of the way the Irish transport system has evolved through design and land use planning. The OECD notes three main unsustainable dynamics contributing to car dependency that include:

1 Induced car demand

2 Urban sprawl

3 The sustainable modes low-attractiveness trap

Decarbonising the transport system through private vehicle fleet electrification alone, may not achieve the changes in behaviour, emission reductions and general well-being improvements that are required in Ireland. Relying heavily on private vehicles will not address the issues of accessibility, urban congestion, and other negative impacts such as road fatalities. Therefore, the OECD makes the following recommendations:

»Prioritise the policies with high potential of reshaping the car-dependent system »Redefine the electrification strategy to support the transition towards a sustainable transport

system »Encourage a systemic approach to policy decision-making across government departments

The NR2040 strategy has been developed in accordance with the OECD recommendations and recognises the issues of increasing car use and emissions. TII widely supports the mitigations measures that should be put in place to reduce these emissions and improve the well-being of Irish citizens, which have been broadly responded to and recognised by the NR2040 investment priorities and commitments.

2.8 National Ports Policy

The National Ports Policy, published in 2013 2 by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, establishes a broad set of principles to serve as the foundation for a policy framework that enables the port sector to grow in a sustainable way. The policies’s primary objective is to promote a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services. The framework supports future decisions on port restructuring, designed in light of the economic issues that Ireland was facing at the time.

To ensure that the ports sector continues to expand sustainably, the connection between the port sector and the planning and development system is crucial.

Integration between planning and policy for ports with the transport system should be of high priority.

TII recognises the potential for greater alignment between planning and policy for ports with that of the National Roads network and will collaborate with the DoT and Irish Maritime Development Office in the development of the next National Ports Policy.

2 Currently Undergoing Update