ABSTRACT
An important trend within the context of transportation has been increasing vehicle ownership. The importance within a transportation context of the international dimension which raises such issues as ports policy and the role of air and sea transport has been noted already. The transportation problems of the smaller centres generally comprise localised traffic congestion and car parking difficulties which can usually be ameliorated through traffic management schemes and road improvements. The foregoing contrasts reflect to a large extent the different transportation planning strategies and, more generally, the different urban planning strategies which have been followed in the two largest cities on the island. The peripheral island location means that through freight, something which is of considerable importance to many European railway administrations, is absent. The island location of Ireland means that internal journey distances are low by European standards.
