Transport links to Scotland play an important role in the development of our local economy said Transport Minister, Conor Murphy.

This was his message when delivering a speech at the Scottish Transport Conference in Glasgow today.

The Minister said: "The quick, efficient and reliable movement of goods to the marketplace is vital for economic growth. To ensure that our economy remains competitive in a global market we need to be able to move the goods we need efficiently within the region and have good connections beyond it."

Sharing a platform with Scottish Minister for Transport, Stewart Stevenson, the Minister said: "Minister Stevenson has outlined how the Scottish Government is working to improve access to and from the gateways. I would now like to say something about the action we are taking to develop our Strategic Road Network.

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"The ten year Investment Strategy to 2018 has indicated an investment of £3.1bn in roads infrastructure, of which approximately £2.5bn will be directed to the Strategic Road Network. This will include major schemes on the key strategic routes between Belfast and Derry, Derry and Dublin, and Larne through Belfast onto Dublin.

"However, it is the connections to the regional gateways that I would like to mainly focus on today particularly the seaports at Belfast and Larne, which are our main gateways to Scotland."

Mr Murphy also mentioned the dualling of the remaining 14km of single carriageway on the Eastern Seaboard Corridor between Belfast and Larne.

This project will see the completion of the final piece of dualling on the Eastern Seaboard Corridor. This will result in a significant improvement in the accessibility to Larne port, with a minimum standard of dual carriageway extending all the way to Newry, Dublin and beyond.

On investment in public transport the Minister said: "Considerable amounts have been invested in public transport and more is planned over the next few years.

"I am determined to ensure that investment in public transport continues. Over the next three years my Department is providing £45m for more new buses and associated projects and £137m for rail infrastructure and rolling stock."

(GK/JM)