Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The 2007 gross Estimate for the Department of Transport at €2.8 billion is an increase of 17%, or €415 million, on the 2006 Revised Estimate. It allows for the continued high level of investment in the development of an integrated transport infrastructure as envisaged by Transport 21 in 2007.

There will be significant further improvements in public transport in 2007. The additional capacity and increased frequency of services already in evidence as a result of the massive investment of almost €2.8 billion since 1999 will be further augmented by an investment of €777 million in 2007. Over €1.5 billion will be invested in the national roads development programme, while €28 million will go towards the support of regional airports. Funding of €45 million will be provided to support the vital work of the Irish Coast Guard and marine safety.

In 2007 the Government will invest €777 million in public transport, an increase of 58% on the 2006 Estimate. This is an unambiguous signal that Transport 21 is gaining real traction and evidence of the Government's commitment to the development of a world-class public transport system. These are exciting times for the development of the rail network. Ireland will soon have the newest intercity rail service in Europe, with a total of 217 new intercity carriages arriving between 2006 and 2009.

In recent years the rail network has been virtually rebuilt and saved from decline and extinction. Passenger numbers have increased substantially as a result. Last year Iarnród Éireann carried nearly 38 million passengers, making it the fastest growing rail network in Europe. Over €2 billion has been invested in CIE-operated transport services since 2000 under the national development plan and Transport 21.

The €450 million provision for Iarnród Éireann's capital envelope in 2007 will fund the completion of the Portlaoise train care depot in time for the 150 new intercity carriages costing €324 million. These will start to arrive next year for service on the other intercity routes between Dublin, Westport, Ballina, Sligo, Galway, Tralee, Waterford and Rosslare. They will provide for a consistent standard of service across the intercity network and improvements in time-savings, reliability, service frequencies and comfort. The 2007 provisions will also enable Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the construction of the first phase of the western rail corridor which will have immense social and economic benefits for the region and promote balanced development.

In the Dublin area the new Docklands station will the first station to be built in the city centre in over 100 years. Other projects to be funded in 2007 include the DART refurbishment programme, the planning and design of Dublin city centre resignalling programme and the Clonsilla to Dunboyne section of the old Navan rail line. Work will also begin on the Kildare route project which will transform commuter services, with service frequency set to double. The project will allow the separation of intercity and commuter services and improve speed and capacity for commuter, regional and intercity services.

Similarly, the Cork commuter rail project, expected to get under way subject to a satisfactory outcome to the railway order process, will provide a new and regular commuter service between Cork city and Midleton. It will also provide a greatly enhanced commuter service from Mallow to Cork city and new stations at Blarney, Dunkettle and Kilbarry, with extensive park and ride facilities. The 2007 provisions will fund the new 67 intercity carriages on the flagship Cork to Dublin route.

The 2007 Estimates provide for payments due in respect of additional buses for Dublin Bus and €12 million towards the cost of replacement buses in 2007. Exchequer funding of €30 million was approved in the last quarter of this year for the purchase by Dublin Bus of 100 additional buses, delivery of which will be completed by the end of January 2007. Exchequer funding of up to €50 million, including €25 million in 2007, is to be provided for up to 160 additional buses for Bus Éireann commencing in 2007. The provision for the annual subvention to CIE in respect of its public service obligations at over €306 million is a 7% increase on the expected 2006 out-turn of €285 million. The increase reflects the policy in recent years of giving annual increases in the subvention taking account of increased operational costs. The increased provision for 2007 also takes account of the additional costs associated with the extra buses, which were approved in September. The increased capital and current funding for rail and bus services will enable the CIE companies to further improve services throughout the country.

The 2007 provision will facilitate the continuation of progress on the Luas and metro elements of Transport 21, including the commencement of construction on the Luas extension to Cherrywood and the Point Depot; increased tram capacity with a 10 m extension of the Tallaght line trams and continued work on metro north. Planning of the remaining Luas and metro lines will also continue. Today we launched the public consultation on the route selection process for metro west.

In line with Transport 21 and Towards 2016, €9 million is provided to bring the rural transport initiative into the mainstream from 2007. The pilot phase of the initiative will conclude at the end of 2006 and preparations are now being made to focus on the provision of rural transport from 2007 onwards. The programme will build on local community and voluntary commitment in providing rural community transport services in areas where there are unmet transport needs. Further details of the development of rural transport will be announced in the coming weeks.

Continued funding will be provided in 2007 for Transport Access for All, my Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. I am pleased to say that considerable progress has already been achieved towards improving access to public transport for people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments.

The improved project management and cost estimation and control arrangements, which have been put in place by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in recent years, have resulted in a very welcome trend of projects being delivered on time and within budget. For example, up to the end of October this year, ten of the 12 projects delivered have been on time and within budget. The N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy project came in eight months ahead of time, the N25 Kinsale Road interchange six months ahead and the N8-73 Mitchelstown relief road four months ahead. These projects all opened well in advance of their original scheduled dates. We are delivering on time and on budget and we will continue to do so.

In the early years of Transport 21, investment in the national road network will focus on the completion of the five major inter-urban routes by 2010. After that we will concentrate on upgrading the remainder of the national primary network with particular emphasis on the routes to the west and north west of the country and on the Atlantic corridor route.

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