TRANSPORT MINISTER Leo Varadkar has unveiled a 20-point priority plan for 2013, compassing his goals for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the New Year.

The goals include new and ongoing projects across all three of Varadkar’s ministerial briefs, and include the introduction of plastic credit card-style driving licences as are already used in other parts of the world.

Other goals include the merging of the Airport with activities of a restructured Shannon Development, including its considerable land-bank and associated rent-roll, by 1 July 2013. Currently, Shannon Airport is a stand-alone entity.

Varadkar said in a statement that 2013 would be “a busy, interesting and exciting year” given Ireland’s EU presidency and The Gathering, which forms one of his Department’s major initiatives for 2013.

“Hopefully, 2013 will also see a further improvement in road safety alongside the publication of a new road safety strategy,” he added.

In full: Leo Varadkar’s 20 priorities for 2013

1. Implement planned budget savings bringing the Department in on budget at the end of 2013 to help reduce the Government’s budget deficit
2. Commence enabling works on the cross-city Luas project
3. Realise ‘The Gathering Ireland 2013’ project, meeting the target of 325,000 additional visitors and €170 million in additional revenue
4. Restart the PPP roads programme by commencing work on the N7 (Newlands Cross), N11 (Rathnew) and N17/18 (Gort-Tuam) projects
5. Resolve the CIE financial situation without recourse to additional subvention
6. Establish Shannon NewCo – the independent Shannon Airport – and restore the airport to passenger growth
7. Launch a new Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020
8. Meet the objectives set down for the Irish Presidency of the Council of Transport Ministers
9. Determine the structure of the public service (PSO) bus market, secure funding of the CIE companies post-2014, and re-organise Irish Rail by year’s end
10. Launch the new plastic card licence and implement the nationwide review of speed limits
11. Develop new facilities at the National Sports Campus including the access roads and multi-use pitches and pavilion
12. Promote sport (physical education) as an examination subject
13. Pass the Road Traffic, Vessels Registration, Taxi, Sport Ireland and Vehicle Clamping Bills
14. Publish the new Ports Policy
15. Complete the consultation phase for the new Aviation Policy and begin work on a Tourism policy review
16. Implement a Maritime ‘Safety at Sea’ initiative
17. Launch and pilot a new Community and Local Improvement Scheme for minor local roads
18. Develop new schemes to encourage cycling and walking and bring the Mullingar to Dublin section of the proposed coast-to-coast greenway to shovel-ready status
19. Report on the feasibility of an Irish Museum of Sport
20. Complete the merger of the NRA and RPA

What do you make of Varadkar’s plans? Anything you like, don’t like, or wish was included? Let us know in the comments below.

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