Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

3:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 110: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that there is no further cost and time overruns in providing integrated ticketing in public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3478/08]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Minister for Transport the contact he has had with the different stakeholders in the integrated ticketing project to ensure compatibility between the different services and to ensure recent failures do not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3479/08]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 115: To ask the Minister for Transport the timeframe for the implementation of a fully integrated ticket system in the greater Dublin area; the overall estimated cost of the integrated ticketing project; the amount that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3399/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111 and 115 together.

Following two independent reviews of the integrated ticketing project in early 2006, my predecessor established the integrated ticketing project board in July of that year. The board was given responsibility to deliver the technology required to deliver an integrated smart card ticketing system within an agreed specification, timeline and budget.

The project board submitted a comprehensive proposal to me in December 2006 setting out the timelines, scope and budget. The proposal put the expected capital cost of the integrated ticketing project at €49.6 million. The board's proposal was assessed in my Department and I authorised the project to proceed in June 2007, following the receipt of the sanction from the Department of Finance.

A monitoring committee on integrated ticketing was established by my Department in July 2007. The committee is chaired by an assistant secretary from my Department and includes the chairperson of the project board and the project director. The committee meets on a monthly basis and monitors financial and implementation progress on the project. I am kept informed of progress.

In July 2007, shortly after I became Minister for Transport, I met with the project board to explain the importance I placed on integrated ticketing and the need to establish it as quickly as was feasible. I met with the chief executives of the various agencies involved as well. I again met the chairperson of the project board in December 2007 to get an update on progress and reiterate my continued support for the project and desire to see it delivered as speedily as possible.

The proposed integrated ticketing system will be launched initially within the greater Dublin area on the services of Dublin Bus, Luas and Morton's in September 2009. It will be extended to Irish Rail, DART and commuter rail services within a further 12 months, and Bus Éireann on a pilot basis on a number of its commuter routes. It is also envisaged that other private bus operators will join the scheme.

In the meantime, the award of the contract to build the back office of the system is expected by the end of March 2008 and the procurement process for a contractor to operate the system will then commence. Dublin Bus will launch its interim smartcard scheme in summer 2008 and Irish Rail will follow suit with its own interim scheme in 2009. Some €12.5 million has been paid out by the Exchequer on integrated ticketing since the inception of the project in March 2002.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is 12 years since this project was first mooted, having an initial cost of €30 million. The expected cost is now €50 million, so there is an appalling waste of public money. The project is €20 million over budget at the moment, almost as bad as the electronic voting machines debacle, a mess with which the Minister was also involved.

The Dublin transport authority Bill is not yet in place although we had it in place in the 1990s. There is no person in overall charge of the transport issues in this project. Does the Minister accept the technologies exist in many other countries but the personalities are not the same in different countries? In this case, there have been turf wars between the likes of Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and private operators. Can the Minister do more in the interim to deal with this issue more effectively and efficiently than as announced in his timeframe?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When I was at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and this was first mooted, I expected the project to be completed much earlier than today. With regard to the review of the current project which took place in 2006, all of the timelines have so far been adhered to and all the progress outlined in that has come about. The timescale is being maintained.

There is much more co-operation at this stage. The Deputy may not have been far off the mark when he indicated part of the difficulty was some less than helpful exchanges between those involved in the early stages.

I would have taken the same view as the Deputy until I examined the matter in much detail since taking up my current portfolio. It is not quite as simple and straightforward as the Deputy indicated. Some countries have got it very right but some have got it very wrong.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Broughan has a final supplementary question.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, is the fourth or fifth Minister who has promised us integrated ticketing. What amount is needed to deliver the project up to August 2009? Will the Minister take personal responsibility that in August 2009 there will be integrated ticketing?

Will the poor commuters of Dublin have to eventually pay for this integrated ticketing debacle, which has gone on for 12 years, in double terms through increased fares and taxes?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With regard to the completion date, the integrated ticketing board is currently responsible for the delivery of the project and it reports to me. It is intended that when the Dublin transport authority is in place, it will take over responsibility for delivering the project. The expected cost, as I noted earlier, is €49.6 million, with this figure based on pre-tender estimates. We will have to wait and see what the tenders turn up.