TEN-T
TEN-T is a Multi-Billion euro programme of European investment in road and rail, airports and ports, to be completed by 2030. More than 80% of the fund is reserved for its CORE network 2014-2020.
Ireland's CORE Network is confined to the routes from Dublin to Belfast, Dublin to Cork and Dublin to Limerick. The previous EU TEN CORE network included the route Derry-Galway-Limerick-Rosslare Europort to avoid the congestion of Dublin and the English midlands for EU freight exports from Ireland North West.
Between mid 2011 and late 2013, the West / Northwest Region was excluded from the TEN Core Network, following a consultation process which did not consult with the Regional Authority. The Western Arc is now confined to what is called the Comprehensive Network for which 5% of TEN-T funding is reserved for completion by 2050, in order to support the Core Network. Ireland has committed to apply to the EU to restore the Western Arc to the Core Network.
Without inclusion of the Western Arc, Ireland’s CORE transport network would be limited to being purely radial out of Dublin to Belfast, Cork and Limerick. This will limit Ireland’s capacity going forward and damage the potential of Europe’s TEN-T. Brexit now makes this issue of immediate concern.
The cross border Western Arc maximises the number of ports and airports served by multi-modal transport by creating economies of scale and optimum transport efficiency, while increasing the synergies between sectors i.e. synergy between Transport/ Energy / ICT.