Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins used the 19th annual Transport Ireland Conference at Croke Park in Dublin on 4 June to urge closer cooperation to ensure transport serves people across the island, highlighting progress on key road and rail projects and a new Transport Strategy due this summer.

She said: "I am delighted to attend this important conference which brings together those shaping the future of transport, connectivity, and infrastructure across our island. Transport must work for everyone. It must enable people to access jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services, regardless of where they live or their circumstances.

"Collaborative working is key, and I know we all have a desire to see work begin on the A5 Western Transport Corridor. The scheme will improve our connectivity, which will in turn bring significant economic and safety benefits and, for those reasons, I am determined to see the road built.

"I am also keen to progress further junction safety improvements along the A1 but, in common with the A5, we must await the outworkings of the current legal proceedings before taking these forward. In the meantime, however, I was pleased to announce a £1million major resurfacing scheme for this main arterial route, which carries thousands of vehicles per day, including many cross-border travellers.

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"In terms of public transport, we are already making transformative joint investment across the island, particularly along the Belfast to Dublin rail corridor. The increase in frequency of the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service has seen a substantial growth in passenger numbers and has made rail a far more convenient option for commuting between Belfast and Dublin. The recent announcement of £548m for a major upgrade of the Enterprise train fleet which includes around £200 million from my Department will deliver a transformed cross-border rail service, with faster, more reliable journeys while also supporting the decarbonisation of our transport network. We are also progressing the outcomes of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, setting out a long-term vision for improved connectivity, faster journeys, and a more sustainable rail network.

"At the same time, we are increasing our focus on public transport and active travel, recognising their central role in building a more sustainable and inclusive transport system. This ambition is reflected in the Active Travel Delivery Plan, which is helping us invest in safer and more accessible infrastructure for local journeys, while also improving integration with bus and rail services. We are working with partners across the island to deliver more sustainable and resilient transport. Cross‑border greenways, such as the cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway, which was supported by Shared Island funding, are already improving connectivity, tourism, and low‑carbon travel."

Updating delegates on her Department's forthcoming Transport Strategy, the Minister said it had been shaped by extensive public engagement across the North and was scheduled for publication later in the summer.

"Transport sits at the heart of how we live, work, and connect, and the decisions we take now will have lasting consequences for our economy, our environment, and our communities. That is why we are bringing forward a new Transport Strategy, which is currently being finalised following extensive public consultation and engagement across the North, and is due for publication later this summer.

"It will set out a clear long-term vision for the future and guide how we plan, invest in, and deliver transport in the years ahead. The challenges are significant, but so too are the opportunities. By working together, we can deliver a transport system that is more sustainable, more connected, and better for the people we serve."