Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together.

Smarter Travel — A Sustainable Transport Future, sets out a range of actions across all areas of Government to deliver a sustainable transport system by the year 2020. The new policy framework has ambitious targets, including a reduction in car commuting from a 65% share in 2006 to 45% by 2020. It also sets out specific ambitions in other areas. For example, it affirms the Government's commitment to have 10% market penetration for electric vehicles by 2020.

I do not see the present financial difficulties of Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann as impacting negatively on the long-term goals of the smarter travel policy. In response to the financial difficulties they face, it should be noted that the Deloitte report on a cost and efficiency review of the two companies makes clear that there is now an opportunity in the case of Dublin Bus to create a simplified network offering improved services with improved cost efficiency.

Such an approach, complemented by other measures to improve the efficiency of bus services such as more bus priority measures and integrated ticketing, could minimise if not offset any potential adverse impact of service changes eventually decided on by the companies. Implementing the recommendations of the Deloitte report shows clearly that doing things smarter and being more customer focused could lead to a better service, more customers and savings that can be used to improve services even more.

The action period of 12 years is ambitious in itself. International experience teaches that the type of wide-ranging changes needed do not happen at defined milestones but rather occur on an incremental basis over a period of time. In that light, it is not useful to assign precise deadlines to each action.

Similarly, the policy is upfront about the estimated cost of €4.5 billion. The allocation of such funding will depend on the prevailing economic climate and in the present circumstances the focus will be on making progress from within existing resources. Having the framework in place means that future transport expenditure will be geared towards the implementation of those policies so the 2011 review of Transport 21 and the 2015 review of the national development plan will have to take the policy fully into account.

That said, I am happy to announce that intensive work has started on delivering actions in 2009. The National Sustainable Travel Office has been established. The proposed national cycle policy framework will be launched shortly. In the near future I will also announce a sustainable travel demonstration fund to support innovative projects in this area. This year up to 150,00 schoolchildren will be reached through the green schools travel initiative. In all, I will be increasing the funding for sustainable travel projects from €3 million in 2008 to €14 million in 2009. That is in addition to other investments under Transport 21 in 2009, including €50 million for travel management grants and support. Those infrastructural improvements will support sustainable travel targets.

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