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In the first of a two-part series, we’re exploring how Ireland’s transport and infrastructure needs are being brought to life. SYSTRA has been at the very heart of assessing, planning and modelling these projects for decades, with a legacy in the country dating back to the 1970s. Our Business Director for Ireland, Ian Byrne, sat down to talk us through his thoughts.
Ian leads a team of more than 45 colleagues across Dublin and Cork. He and SYSTRA colleagues have played a pivotal role in shaping influential transport strategies for the country, advising on sustainable transport scheme delivery, transport assessment and scheme appraisal, and decarbonisation strategies amongst many advisory areas as well as providing transport advice for clients including the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail).
Read on to find out more and listen in full to the SYSTRAcast episode via the link below.
Anyone like me who has lived and worked in Ireland for the past few decades will know very well the challenges of balancing ambition with affordability, and the importance of ensuring every euro spent delivers value for money.
Those things never change, but what’s different now is that the pendulum has shifted decisively towards the need to get on and deliver. The upcoming National Development Plan (NDP) is likely to reiterate the need for a number of key projects. Some of them will be emerging out of recent needs and growth, but many of them have been around for years.
The context of this– including climate change challenges and a population now at its highest level since the Famine – means Ireland stands at the threshold of a once-in-a-lifetime investment programme that has the potential to support our country for generations to come.
We must seize this opportunity. Strategic investment in infrastructure will not only meet today’s pressing needs but it will also catapult Ireland into a brighter future as an attractive, modern place to live, work and enjoy. Well-planned infrastructure underpins everything; housing that is connected and affordable; transport networks that are efficient; energy systems that are resilient and green; and connectivity that allows our communities to thrive.
The scale of investment we hope to see has the power to reshape Ireland’s economic and social landscape. By improving competitiveness, we can attract and retain international investment, foster innovation and research, and drive growth so that prosperity is more even across the country. At the same time investment must align with net zero goals, creating an infrastructure system that is not only fit for purpose today, but future-proofed for tomorrow.
Delivering this vision will not be without its challenges. Timely planning, efficient procurement, and strong collaboration between government, industry and communities will be critical. But with the scale of resources already committed, the focus now must shift to action.
This is Ireland’s moment. By delivering on this unprecedented infrastructure programme, we can create lasting value, building the foundations of a country that is more competitive, sustainable and inclusive and a place where our Ireland’s people and businesses grow and flourish and importantly choose to stay.
Listen to Ian’s SYSTRAcast episode here.
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