Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—notes that Transport 21, which provides for an investment of €16 billion in public transport, is focused on the delivery of a state-of-the-art transport system that will, inter alia, promote sustainable transport solutions, including a modal shift from private to public transport;

welcomes the unprecedented capital investment of over €12 billion by the Government since 1997 in upgrading and expanding the capacity of Ireland's transport infrastructure;

welcomes, in particular, the Government's demonstrated commitment to the revitalisation of the rail network and services over the last ten years as evidenced by the fact that:

we currently have the fastest growing rail network in Europe;

Luas has been an unprecedented success;

new rail lines and railway stations are being continuously opened up; and

Transport 21 represents a major commitment to conventional rail as well as light rail and metro to meet our future public transport needs;

notes the commitment to deliver a sustainable transport action plan to guide national policy."

Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Glennon.

I am pleased to address the House on this issue and outline the significant achievements of the Government in upgrading and expanding the capacity of the transport system with a view to enhancing sustainability. Traffic volumes have grown in line with the population and growth in the economy. There are now over 2.1 million registered vehicles carrying more people and freight than ever before. Our economic success has created major new transport needs. We are victims of our own success. We have created an economic atmosphere conducive to investment. However, the Government has responded to these needs through the national development plan and continues to do so.

I take the opportunity to outline in detail, particularly from a public transport perspective, what has been achieved since 1997. Over €2.5 billion of Exchequer funds was invested in public transport capital projects between 1997 to 2006. Nearly €600 million in Exchequer funding was invested in public transport in 2006 alone.

In Iarnród Éireann which is at the heart of the motion we now have one of the fastest growing rail network companies in Europe, carrying a record 43 million passengers in 2006. Significant investment has taken place in rail infrastructure to match this. There has also been a major rolling stock investment programme. In December 2004 Iarnród Éireann placed an order with Mitsui for the manufacture of 120 intercity railcars at a cost of €263 million. Delivery of the new railcars has begun and they will operate on the Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Westport-Ballina and Tralee routes. In 2005 Iarnród Éireann placed an order for 30 intercity railcars — additional to the 120 already on order — to be deployed on the Rosslare and Sligo intercity routes. The addition of these new units will see the removal from service of all older rolling stock and the provision of clock face timetabling on all intercity routes. The order has been further enlarged by Iarnród Éireann following recent approval of funding for a further 33 railcars to serve Portlaoise, Athlone and Carlow.

See this speech in context