Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the benefits the Government's Transport 21 plan will bring to rural communities throughout Ireland; his views on whether the plan provides the necessary infrastructure to allow rural Ireland achieve its potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36934/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the implications of the Government's Transport 21 plan for road and rail infrastructure in rural Ireland; his views on whether the current transport infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of many in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36935/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 87 together.

The launch of Transport 21 was a major boost to the future of rural Ireland. The investment of €34.4 billion will transform this country's transport network within a ten year financial framework and will deliver better and more balanced regional development. This will be achieved through improved road and rail services throughout the State and the expansion of the rural transport initiative, putting it on a permanent basis. The benefits include improved access, faster travel times, safer roads and better public transport. Transport 21 is essential because existing infrastructure requires improvement across the State. As I stated in a press release on 1 November 2005, these works will now provide the necessary major infrastructure for the west to reach its potential.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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My concern is for people who are in isolated and remote areas of rural Ireland, away from the national primary and secondary routes and railway lines. At the moment, sub-post offices are closing. This will cause a transport problem for senior citizens or for people who are dependent upon social welfare. Old age pensioners and invalidity pensioners are entitled to free travel. Their free travel is no use to them unless they can access the routes. The rural transport initiative is there, but it needs to be greatly expanded. The Minister stated that it will be put on a permanent basis and that further resources will be invested.

However, given what was stated in that plan, was it not somewhat disingenuous for the Minister to paint it as a major breakthrough for rural Ireland? I refer to the people in such areas who require transport in order to collect pensions on a weekly basis, to socialise, to travel to and from towns or to keep hospital appointments where ambulance services or similar services are not available. With regard to such people, for whose welfare all Members, including the Minister, are concerned, were his comments in respect of Transport 21 on 1 November not completely out of context? Is it not misleading to give the impression that a brave new world is about to be created in terms of transport and transport communication for people in rural Ireland?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has asked questions about ambulances and many other matters.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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That is disingenuous of the Minister. I explained what I meant.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport has responsibility for the national primary and secondary roads.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The Minister is taking much of the public credit for it.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Constitutionally, we are one Government.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I meant the Minister personally.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It also has responsibility for public transport services such as buses and trains. Essentially, Transport 21 is concerned with public transport, that is, buses and trains, as well as major national routes. The map published with this plan shows that, unlike previous transport plans, this one deals with isolated areas in terms of national routes. For that reason, I particularly welcomed its inclusion of the coastal national secondary routes. I am sure Deputy McGinley will agree with me that for people living in Gweedore or on the N56, the inclusion of routes like the N56 and the N59, where people live 40 or 50 miles from national primary routes, was an essential ingredient if the transport plan was to benefit everyone.

The commitment in respect of the western rail corridor constitutes the biggest ever re-opening of a railway line undertaken in this country. It reverses the trends of years, particularly in the context of the west. Since the plan's publication, I have met representatives of Iarnród Éireann with regard to the preservation and clearing of the line from Claremorris to Collooney. Moreover, Iarnród Éireann has indicated to me that it is ready to get estimates for the cost of that work as quickly as possible, which is of vital importance for the future.

This plan puts rural transport for pensioners of the type to which the Deputy referred on a permanent basis and provides extra funding for this purpose in future. It is important to provide transport for pensioners and public transport, particularly buses as well as trains, must be upgraded. However, the population at large, young and old, travel on roads. Hence, having a good spinal system of roads is vital.

I take an integrated view. I have matched, euro for euro, money for roads from local improvement schemes, because some people use such roads to go from their houses to the next category of road. Similarly, I have invested extra funding from the CLÁR scheme into the next category of road, namely, class 3 roads. The Government has invested an unprecedented amount in regional roads throughout the country, which for many people is the next category of road. Thereafter, in many cases, one reaches a national secondary route. In that regard, there is a major commitment to a focused strategy on national secondary routes as part of Transport 21. To get to the main urban centres, most people rely on national primary routes. The Government is carrying out major work on the national primary routes to provide integrated improvements in transport and road services, as well as an equivalent improvement in rail services, during the period of the plan.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I must remind Members that, under Standing Orders, supplementary questions are limited to one minute, as are the answers to them.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has a map in his possession showing the details of Transport 21. While I do not, I remember noticing significant gaps at the great launch of the plan. Does the Minister not agree there are significant gaps in infrastructural development under the Transport 21 scheme? I refer in particular to the north west. Admittedly, Northern Ireland gets in the way. Have any negotiations, discussions or meetings been held between the authorities here and those in Northern Ireland? When one considers the fate of previous plans, we all have reservations in respect of the current one. Only 60% of the last plan has been completed. Be that as it may, what plans, arrangements or negotiations have taken place to ensure that if roads are built up to the Border, people will be able to pass through Northern Ireland to reach places such as County Donegal in the north west?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy must ask that question of the Minister for Transport. However, I am sure his heart was warmed yesterday on learning that work on the Castleblayney bypass has commenced.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the first phase of the Monaghan bypass is under construction and the Carrickmacross bypass has been completed. That means that if one uses the M1 motorway, one nearly has a straight run from Dublin all the way to the Border. As the Deputy is also aware, the Ballyshannon and Bundoran bypasses are under construction. Some years ago, the Donegal and Barnesmore Gap bypasses were completed. In addition, one should consider the N56 and the opening of the Sligo relief road. It is of vital importance to the north west if one travels down the Atlantic corridor, as it will be known.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Are any negotiations taking place with the Northern Ireland authorities?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know. That would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport. I suggest the Deputy should table a question for him. However, it is clear that the north west is to the forefront of the plan. Within this jurisdiction, it is all happening for the north west as far as roads are concerned, and not before time. In a few years' time, if there are no developments in Northern Ireland, people will give thanks that they are travelling on the better roads of the South. Many people would not have believed that 15 years ago.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The Minister will not be surprised to learn that I do not share his optimism in respect of his initiatives pertaining to rural transport. Would he accept that his much-vaunted initiative on the western rail corridor actually concerns a western rail hallway? It does not come close to being a corridor, which would extend from Cork to Sligo. Currently, given the continuation of a radial system in and out of Dublin, one should not be obliged to go from Cork to Limerick via Tipperary or from Cork to Galway via Portarlington. What efforts has the Minister made to secure the railway line between Charleville and Limerick? Currently, there is a planning application to build a bungalow on the line at Bruff in County Limerick. What does Transport 21 contain in respect of rural buses? What effort has the Minister made to mainstream the rural link transport initiative? Is this not simply a glossy brochure that maintains things as they are and does not invest resources where they are required? The access to public transport of people in rural communities will be as poor as ever. For those who have had the promise of the opening of part of the western rail corridor dangled before them, is the deadline of 2014 unlikely to be met?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The only circumstance in which it is unlikely to be met is if we are no longer in Government. Work on the western rail corridor will commence next year. As I have already stated, I have had discussions with Iarnród Éireann about preserving the line from Claremorris to Collooney and it has been extremely proactive in this respect, as has the Department of Transport.

I am familiar with the railway line from Bruff to Charleville, to which the Deputy referred. I have a particular interest in the line because my grandfather used to travel on it in the mornings. Unfortunately there was no train back in the evenings so he had to walk the six or seven miles home from school. I suggest the Deputy raise the issue of the line's ownership with the Minister for Transport. I do not even know if it is owned by Iarnród Éireann.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The line has not been closed.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The one through Bruree.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The rails are gone but the line is still in existence. Planning permission has been given to build on it.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not the Minister for Transport and, as the Deputy is perfectly aware, I would not know that minor detail. I can tell him, however, that when we open the western rail corridor, one will be able to travel from Sligo to Cork without going to Dublin.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The Minister stated publicly that his Department will provide the funding to carry out the works necessary to clear the line from Claremorris to Collooney, and also to repair or replace fences. Does this mean the project will be carried out under the rural social scheme?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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No. I have had discussions with Iarnród Éireann and understand it or a contractor it hires will complete the project.