Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I will pass on the Deputy's comments.

This is the second anniversary of the Taoiseach's announcement to build a world-class transport system for the 21st century on time and in budget. There have been criticisms of many projects of Transport 21, some of which are behind schedule.

I welcomed the launch of Transport 21 as it placed an important and large emphasis on public transport, particularly if we are to reduce our overdependency on the car. Between 1990 and 2005, fossil fuel consumption in the transport sector grew by 150% while energy efficiency in the sector only improved by less than 1%. The transport sector was responsible for 33% of CO2 emissions. When considering carbon taxes, it is an area that must be considered. It is essential we invest in public transport to give people alternative commuting and travelling arrangements, as exemplified by the success of the Luas service. The Luas service is efficient and relatively inexpensive in moving large volumes of people. It needs to be extended to other parts of Dublin.

It is a welcome development that the Cork-Dublin rail route has a train service on the hour, every hour, while the Dublin-Cork route has a train every half hour. Many were sceptical when it was announced. Those involved in it and working in Irish Rail say that it has increased passenger numbers which shows that people will use a quality product that is clean, on time and well run. That is how one attracts customers. Parts of the motorway between Cork and Dublin due to be completed in 2010, have opened, such as the Mitchelstown and Cashel bypasses, and have reduced the journey time from five hours to three and a half or four hours.

There are three options for travel between Cork and Dublin, a flight with Ryanair or Aer Arann, car or rail, all equally attractive but competing. This competition will improve services and hopefully reduce costs for travellers. Transport 21 includes a Cork area strategic plan, CASP, which brings together the city and county councils to develop a plan for the improvement of public transport until 2020. The Department of Transport has accepted the plan. The main investment in the plan will be the Midleton-Cork-Mallow rail route which has been delayed. This is frustrating because the road network is congested. I am disappointed that the project is not advancing at the pace we had hoped for because development of housing stock and businesses in the area hinges on it. Meanwhile, people living in the area must put up with intolerable traffic and congestion.

Green routes form another part of the CASP, serving the city centre from between eight and ten nodes. These will be dedicated bus routes but will also improve pedestrian and cycle access around the city. The concept is good and the Department of Transport has delivered funding but the bus capacity has not increased. People will be attracted to a service that, like the Luas, is on time and efficient. The bus capacity does not exist on those routes, which is a serious defect. In many cases the bus service remains as it was five years ago. People do not use the buses which defeats the purpose of the routes.

The Minister said that Transport 21 will involve 425 new buses, of which 169 are replacements and 256 are additional. Cork will receive 32, also divided between replacement and additional buses. This is not enough. If the ambitious plan of the Minister and Taoiseach is to succeed the infrastructure must be put in place. It is fine to develop green and bus routes but the Minister needs to put the buses on the route, even to the extent of having over capacity to attract commuters. I urge the Minister to consider that because the routes are not as successful as they should or could be.

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