Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in announcing the ten-year plan for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21561/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept that there has been any delay in publishing the plan. An outline of the draft transport investment framework is currently under active consideration by the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs. When the committee has concluded its consideration I will bring my proposals to Government as quickly as possible.

The transport investment framework will build on the work already completed under the transport element of the national development plan. It will also take account of the work already done on investment priorities under the current capital envelope to the end of 2009 and of the various strategic studies already completed by my Department and its agencies, including A Platform for Change, the strategic rail review and the national road needs study. More specifically, my Department has engaged with Córas Iompair Éireann, the Railway Procurement Agency, the National Roads Authority, the Dublin Transportation Office and other local authorities to identify the broad direction and priorities under the investment framework.

It is a fundamental requirement that in so doing we propose an integrated solution to the transport challenges facing us and not merely a sectoral response.

It is not possible to outline the specifics of the draft framework or the level of funding to be made available pending the completion of its consideration by the Cabinet committee and a decision by the Government. However, the broad direction of the framework is expected to be along the following lines: completion of the major inter-urban motorways by 2010 and the upgrading of the rest of the national road network over the period of the framework; transformation of the transport system in the greater Dublin area, with a particular focus on the public transport network; completion of the renewal of the national rail network, with a major focus on the provision of enhanced services; upgrading of the public transport services in provincial cities and in the regions; addressing the management of the demand for transport; ensuring the accessibility of the public transport system to people with disabilities; and mainstreaming the rural transport initiative into the transport investment programme.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I put it to the Minister that there has been a considerable delay. This plan was first announced in the budget last December and the Minister told me in a reply to a parliamentary question in March that he had made the presentation to the Cabinet sub-committee. Three months have passed since that presentation and no decision or announcement has been made. Will the Minister accept that the effect of that is that all developments regarding transport have been put on hold? The Minister has created considerable uncertainty within the transport companies and meanwhile people continue to sit in cars in congested streets, wait in long bus queues and are squashed into overcrowded trains and the Luas while he cogitates on this and we wait for him make a decision. Time is ticking away. The Minister's predecessor did very little in terms of an overall plan for transport. The Minister promised this plan but six months after the announcement a decision has not yet been made on it.

When does the Minister expect to be in a position to announce the details of the famous ten-year plan? Can he tell the House what will then be the status of A Platform for Change, the previous framework for transport development for the city? What is the status of that framework now and are there various elements of it on which we have all been waiting for umpteen years? Will they be put in place now or fast-tracked or will they be shelved? Will this turn out to be another pre-election stunt as was A Platform for Change?

I looked at the Minister's Department website today and saw this map showing plans for a metro that will go from Bray, through Finglas to Dublin Airport, with a spur to Blanchardstown and going all the way to Clondalkin. Does the fact that this map is on the Minister's website mean that this is current transport policy? Will this be part of the Minister's ten-year plan? Will the Minister let us know his intentions in that regard? We need some action because people are sick and tired of waiting for a decent public transport system.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I would make two points in response to the Deputy. First, there is a five year plan and budgeting framework in place and all of that becomes part of the overall ten year investment. There is no stoppage on companies. I note in a positive way that the NRA is continuing to roll out its programme. Bus Éireann is continuing to fulfil its orders and enhance its rolling stock. Iarnród Éireann is doing the same. The Luas investment has gone ahead. The investment in the DART is visible as we speak, although I realise inconvenience is caused to customers at weekends. There is a huge amount of work going on.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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When will the Minister announce the plan?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have a fairly clear view at this stage of the framework but the question the Deputy will pose to me is whether I have applied due diligence to the costs. The figures involved in terms of the financing are very significant, as the Deputy can appreciate. In fairness, the Minister for Finance wants to be sure that the moneys we put in to the budget line for the next ten years will not be out of kilter with the costs as they arise. That is a substantial exercise and it has given rise to various questions about some aspects, which are quite legitimate and must be answered. If there is a delay it is a delay in a positive sense in terms of trying to finalise these points.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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When does the Minister expect to be able to announce it?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not in absolute control of this in the sense that I am waiting for people to get back to me on some technical and financial aspects. As soon as that happens I will go back to the Government as quickly as possible. I accept it is much better from the Government's point of view and that of the different companies involved in public transport that they have clarity on the issue as quickly as possible to allow enhanced activity in terms of what is required in all the areas of public transport. I do not have an argument with the Deputy on that but I have to be sure that the day I announce this plan on behalf of the Government, and when people look at figures, the hard cash will be provided with it, unlike previous plans or visions. Everyone will welcome that because it will bring certainty to companies, whether they are in the public or private sector, in terms of investment.

The third point was about A Platform for Change. The Platform for Change proposals are being integrated with this plan. There are specific Platform for Change proposals, Luas proposals, metro proposals and Iarnród Éireann proposals, all of which have much merit. We must ensure that when we finalise those proposals they all integrate and that, whether we choose one or the other, they connect up. The Deputy has heard me say previously that if we are investing in inter-city rail it is important that it can connect to the main hub of transport, be it Luas, metro or DART connectivity, and that all of that works in a cohesive way. It is not about favouring one company over the other but about considering what delivers for Dublin. There are other rail proposals and substantial road proposals for the rest of the country, which are key to the spatial strategy. We have engaged with local authorities to be absolutely sure they are lined up with what we want to do. The local authorities have rightly made the point that we should be well aware of the sort of investment they want to make and the direction of their planning proposals, for example, where major new housing or commercial developments will take place.

We want to plan the transport network now, not when developments are completed. It has been one of the curses of the country up to now that we have built first and introduced transport years later. I do not want to go down that road again.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to the next question.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Plans were in existence in the past but the Government did not deliver on them — that is the difficulty. I asked the Minister when he might announce details of the ten-year plan. The public wants to know when it can expect relief from the chronic congestion it deals with daily, particularly in Dublin city. The Minister has already given the go-ahead to the extension of the M50. However, despite the spending of countless millions of euro and all the inconvenience to the public, there will not be any improvement of traffic congestion because the Government has failed to deliver on the commitments made under A Platform for Change. When will the Minister fast-track the major public transport initiatives in the pipeline, which have been researched and costed, and which await decision and action by the Government? That is what we want to know.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not agree with the Deputy's opening statement. Next week, the opening of the final stage of the M50 will make a huge contribution to the completion of the network.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It will not make any difference to congestion.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Having a motorway connecting the M11 and the M1 is a huge step forward.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The environmental impact statement stated it would not make any difference to congestion.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Anybody I have met who travels regularly from Cork to Dublin — this is not political — told me the transformation of that road is astonishing. That includes those who used to have to fly because of the traffic.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to the next question. We are well over time.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Does the Minister accept the findings of the EIS on the M50?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not blind to the problems on the M50.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It will have no impact on traffic congestion.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I accept there are problems on the M50. I have made clear that my view of the resolution of the problems in Dublin, including, in large measure, those on the M50, will be the development of a public transport network to create an alternative mode of transport.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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All the Minister is doing is talking about public transport. We want decisions and action.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to the next question.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am some months in this office. I have told the Deputy I will make decisions. I have done so on aviation; I intend to do so on this issue as quickly as possible.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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When?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As quickly as I can.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to the next question.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister is making promises but there is no action.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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There is action.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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People are sick and tired of traffic congestion.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Neither the Deputy nor I have a magic wand to turn around tomorrow morning and end the real problems that exist.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Nobody said anything about a magic wand.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must move on to the next question.