Ógra Shinn Féin Public Transport Discussion Paper

The following paper was recently submitted to the North South Forum:

Ógra Shinn Féin are dedicated to the provision of strong public transport system which operates on an All-Ireland basis paid for through progressive taxation. We believe that public transport services should be a prerequisite of large scale development rather than an afterthought. We believe a publicly owned transport system is the best way to provide accessible, affordable and environmentally friendly transport to the greatest number of people across the country, north and south. We also support community based transport initiatives such as the black taxi services in Belfast and Derry and car-free city centres.

The partition of this island by a foreign parliament has led to the development of two separate systems of inefficient transport. In a small country like Ireland there is no need for two separate transport systems.

The 26 county state has seen unparalleled prosperity in the last decade, with a huge number of multinational firms setting up here. Despite this the level of efficient and accessible transport has remained static and in some cases worsened. Our road system is abysmal outside of a few large urban areas and even within them development has been over priced and taken far too long, our rail is non-existent to the vast majority of the population and many businesses.

The 6 county statelet while in possession of a reasonable transport system is in need of redevelopment and innovation in an All-Ireland context, there is urgent need for the renewal of the neglected public transport system outside of major urban areas and linking up towns and cities with new rail and bus routes. This of course all needs to be done in conjunction with the All-Ireland Ministerial Council to ensure the most efficient, effective and accessible system across the island of Ireland.

Both jurisdictions have been damaged and continue to be threatened by the neo-liberal privatisation agenda of the 26 county government and, until recently, the British direct rule ministers.

Ógra Shinn Féin want to see increased investment in the development of an All-Ireland road network which is acceptable in ecological, environmental and social terms. We want to see the coordination of transport development, including road agencies, traffic signage and notation, on an All-Ireland basis with the commitment to harmonise policy across the island. The provision of a dual carriageway from Dublin to Donegal via Derry, the completion of a rerouted M3 for Meath commuters, however we need to ensure that infrastructure development and road building projects does not impede on important environmental and heritage sites. We want to see a general increase in funding for road upgrading and maintenance, tax incentives for the use and production of bio-fuels and the provision of extra cycle lanes where the safety of the cyclist is paramount, along with the rejection of privatisation and tolls are needed in the development of a modern road network.

We also want to see an overhaul of the “Regional Transport Strategy” with respect to the omission of Fermanagh, Tyrone and South Armagh, leaving them with little or no public transport and demand investment in Key Transport Corridors like Larne-Belfast-Newry-Dublin-Waterford, Belfast-Derry and Cork-Limerick-Galway-Sligo-Letterkenny-Derry, Belfast-Dublin-Rosslare. As well as routes such as Coleraine to Monaghan and Cookstown to Cavan.

With regards to public transport we call for the replenishing of the Bus Átha Cliath fleet by providing 500 extra buses, the provision of park and ride facilities for housing developments and the assurance that all public transport will be accessible to people with a disability. Quality bus corridors are also needed on the main arterial routes in urban centres.

We also call for more provision for light rail such as Luas in other cities including Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast, and Derry.

The rail system in this country is for the most part overly centred on Dublin and Belfast, remaining inaccessible to the vast majority of the people. The closure of rail lines in the 1950’s and 60’s which were never reopened or redeveloped has damaged the economy of the west of Ireland immeasurably and led to a years of social and economic depression. We want to roll back these mistakes and introducing new routes and improving links between urban centres north, south, east and west. We seek to build an extended western rail corridor serving Donegal and Derry, see rapid construction of rail and metro links to Dublin Airport and rail to Shannon airport.

A key aim of any transport policy is to reduce the number of unnecessary journeys. This means incorporating facilities into new built areas through a strong planning system and it also means bringing all Ireland dimensions to services such as health, and education, therefore reducing unnecessary trips in border areas. The high instance of road deaths in border areas could be reduced through reducing the amount of unnecessary journeys – indeed as Ógra Shinn Féin embarks on a campaign for Road Safety some of these concerns will be placed high on our agenda.

We see Ireland as one country whose infrastructural and transport needs are served best by working in one unified system. We opposed the reliance on the market to provide services of national necessity to the people; we call for the renationalisation of Irish Ferries and Aer Lingus. We want to see a strong Ireland which serves all its people with the most efficient, accessible and affordable transport system possible and to provide this on an All-Ireland basis. This is the basis of our politics, an equal public service which is affordable and island wide.