From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross T.D. and Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D. today launched ‘Linking people and places’ and details of the almost €25billion which will be invested in our transport, tourism and sport infrastructure over the next 10 years.
The Ministers were joined at today’s launch in Dublin Port by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., and the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. as part of Government’s Project Ireland 2040 capital investment programme.
Speaking at the event, An Taoiseach stated:“Project Ireland is our plan to take the entire country forward, balancing rural and urban investment, and preparing us for future economic challenges and opportunities. It’s about linking our communities; linking our cities to each other; and linking with the wider world. That means investing heavily in public transport, further improving our road network and prioritising our ports and airports. Next year alone, there will be a 25% increase in investment in public infrastructure - that’s €1.5 billion in investment. We want to achieve compact growth, sustainable mobility, and strengthen rural economies and communities, and the investment plans we have set out in Project Ireland 2040 will make that happen.”
Speaking at today’s launch, Minister Ross stated: “Here in Dublin Port we can see how ambition can be matched by delivery as the port continues to realise its masterplan through the provision of new infrastructure and services. ‘Linking people and places’ is similarly ambitious in outlining the transport, tourism and sport facilities and services we will see delivered by 2027. Whether it is the €8.6 billion investment in public transport, the €6.6billion in national roads or the €308million to be invested in tourism and sport, each of these investments will improve transport systems and the attractiveness of Ireland as a place to visit, do business and, importantly, as a place to live. Just like here in the port, I am confident that the investment committed by Government in ‘Linking people and places’ will ensure fulfilment of that ambition and help deliver a better Ireland for all our citizens.”
Linking people with places categorises the investment programme into:
Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. commented: “The link established in Project Ireland 2040 between strategic planning and investment is a first and allows for the type of certainty required to properly plan and deliver significant infrastructure projects such as those outlined in ‘Linking people with places’. Our transport network – be it road, rail, air or sea – has a vital role to play in linking us with each other and the wider world; while our tourism and sport sectors are an intrinsic part of who we are as a people and a community. The investment committed in this plan will ensure better services and infrastructure across the country and help fulfil the ambition of Project Ireland 2040.”
Minister of State Griffin stated: “Across the country both tourism and sport have an important role to play in developing, and sustaining, economic and social progress. ‘Linking people and places’ will see almost €108million invested in tourism between now and 2021 and around €200million in sport over the same period. This investment will benefit all regions of the country and deliver jobs and improve sports facilities in every county and we’re committed to maintaining, or improving, that level of investment out to 2027.”
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‘Linking people and places’ is available here.
The investment planned under ‘Linking people and places’ will support delivery of the National Strategic Outcomes as envisaged under Project Ireland 2040:
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