Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made in the implementation of the Deloitte report on efficiency reforms in Dublin Bus; the timetable for the implementation of set objectives; his plans to restructure other areas of CIE and Dublin Bus in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29662/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from Dublin Bus that it has commenced implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report. The implementation process includes the application of the principles identified in the report, such as the amalgamation of route legs and the use of even headways between buses, as part of its cost recovery plan. The company has also commenced work on the review and redesign of the network in line with the Deloitte report and Dublin Bus is targeting mid-2010 for the completion of this work. This involves a detailed review of the 18 main route corridors served by Dublin Bus. I am informed that Dublin Bus is rolling out automatic vehicle location, AVL, and real time passenger information on a depot by depot basis with the first depot to be completed by the end of this year. Once AVL has been introduced this will enable Dublin Bus to provide real time passenger Information, RTPI, by way of Internet or mobile phone access. Funding has also been set aside for Dublin City Council to enable the installation of RTPI display signs at bus stops in a similar fashion to those at Luas and DART stops.

Both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are introducing a single smart card in the greater Dublin area on a phased basis over the period to early 2011. Dublin Bus introduced a "disposable" smart card in 2008 for its current range of prepaid tickets and more than 30 million smart card transactions take place every year.

While I have no plans to restructure other areas of CIE and Dublin Bus in the immediate future, my Department is currently developing public service contracts for the annual compensation paid to the CIE companies in respect of their PSO services. These contracts, which will replace the current memoranda of understanding, are due to be in place by early December.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I have met with Dublin Bus representatives. I am happy with the way the company resolved its industrial relations issue, and particularly with how it gave priority to new people coming into the company and allowed older people who wished to take voluntary redundancy to do so.

In a contracting economy, the situation has worsened for people who need public transport. People cannot afford to drive as much as previously and there are fewer buses on the road. What plans do the Minister or Dublin Bus have to improve services? When funding is cut the company cannot provide service.

The Dublin Transport Authority was to have been set up earlier this year. Will it be in place before the end of the year? When it is set up, will it give priority to this area?

Integrated ticketing was to have cost €12 million. It has cost €18 million to date and is still not fully in place. Taxpayers' money has been wasted on this project and it is not working as well as it ought.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The total cost of integrated ticketing will be €54 million. The amount spent so far is €19 million.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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A sum of €12 million was the estimated cost so far.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, to the stage it is now at. The estimated total cost was in the region of €49 or €50 million. When tenders came in that was revised up to €54 million. That is the figure we are looking at.

I hope the Dublin Transport Authority will be established and operational before the end of this year. The new chief executive officer has been notified of his appointment and some matters remain to be finalised in that regard. As soon as the person is in place we will establish the board itself and move forward.

I join Deputy O'Dowd in commending Dublin Bus on securing agreement for a new streamlined service and for the necessary economies. The plans for improvement do not need extra money. The recommendations of the Deloitte report will save money. I meet Dublin Bus representatives every four to six weeks to discuss the Deloitte report. The company has set up a steering group which is dedicated to implementing the recommendations of the report.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Deloitte recommendations would save Dublin Bus approximately €2 million per major route. The key point is that new areas of population have no bus service. With its finite resources, Dublin Bus will not be able to provide these services. What attractions is the Minister providing to private companies to come into the market, as was promised ten years ago?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Deputy's basic point. I am sure Bus Átha Cliath will take note of the fact that there are areas where there are no services. I have seen some maps which illustrate this lack. There is nothing to stop private sector companies from operating in those areas. The forthcoming public transport Bill, which will reform the 1932 Act, will be a big help in attracting the private sector.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It takes years to get the consent of the Department of Transport and to get a licence.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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No, it does not.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I can give the Minister a few examples.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There have been difficulties in the past. The 1932 Act is slow and cumbersome and is not fit for current purpose.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Absolutely.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Transport the indicative completion dates of all planned public transport capital projects; the delays that are currently being experienced by these projects; the status of other public transport capital projects as detailed in Transport 21 but have not yet entered the planning phase or are not subject to contractual obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29663/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress has been made in the delivery of the ambitious programme of works to upgrade our public transport system set out in Transport 21.

A number of public transport projects have already been completed. The new Docklands railway station has opened and Irish Rail has completely modernised its intercity rolling stock. The new Portlaoise traincare depot is open and operational and new stations have also been provided at Parkwest-Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin-Fonthill and Hazelhatch-Celbridge. All of the Luas trams on the Tallaght line were lengthened by 10 m, increasing the capacity of that line by 40%.

Further major works are also in progress on other public transport projects, some of which will be completed this year. These are the Cork to Midleton rail line, phase 1 of the western rail corridor and the Luas extension to the Docklands. Apart from six that were damaged in transit, the remainder of the new intercity railcars will also enter service on the national rail network this year. Work is progressing on the Luas extensions to Cherrywood and Citywest, phase 1 of the Kildare route project and phase 1 of the Navan rail line project. All of these will complete construction within 18 months.

Funding for an automatic vehicle location system, AVLS, and real-time passenger information, RTPI, has also been made available and these projects will be rolled out over the next 18 months. The integrated ticketing project is also well advanced and the single smartcard for the GDA will be introduced on a phased basis over the period to early 2011. Major investment in Iarnród Éireann's railway safety programme is ongoing. Progress is also continuing on the delivery of bus priority measures in Dublin and the provincial cities. By the end of this year, more than €2.5 billion will have been invested in new public transport infrastructure under Transport 21.

Regarding projects not yet at construction, I have stated a number of times that the provision of increased capacity will continue to be a key consideration in determining investment priorities for public transport. Given their potential to increase capacity on the public transport network, metro north and the DART underground are key projects. Continued investment in increased bus capacity and bus priority measures are also priorities. The bus-related investment will be guided by the Deloitte cost and efficiency review of the CIE bus companies and the availability of current funding for public service obligations. The selection of projects and programmes will also be guided by the overarching priorities of strengthening the productive capacity of the economy and sustaining employment.

The planning of the other major public transport capital projects identified in Transport 21 is continuing and they will be released for construction as soon as they are through statutory procedures and subject to the funding available during the current difficult economic climate.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The current economic climate is key. Does it mean that all of Transport 21's objectives will be followed through? There has been speculation in the press regarding metro north and west. Will the Minister comment in this regard? Metro north, which everyone present favours, is predicated on a Government decision to proceed. It has not received the final green light.

Where there are contractual obligations, I presume that they must continue. Where there are none, will the Minister provide an amended Transport 21 plan for 2015?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Like the Deputy, I have been reading consistently negative comments in newspapers about metro north for as long as I have been in my Department and even prior to that time. Metro north is some people's pet hate and they continue to feed this feeling into the media.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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However, the project's situation has not changed one iota. It is one of Transport 21's two key public projects. As the Deputy is aware from newspaper reports, it is being delayed in the planning process.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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This week.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The two preferred tenderers are in place. As soon as the planning and tendering processes have concluded, the cost-benefit appraisal will be carried out. Once it proves positive, which I am certain will be the case, construction will commence.

Any contracts we have signed must be honoured and those projects will continue. As to which projects might fall foul of the economic circumstances if they do not improve, I will decide nearer the time. In deference to our time limits, I will not name all of the projects listed in Transport 21, but I intend to continue providing money for planning and to make them shovel ready. At that stage, we will make the decisions in light of the economic circumstances.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister can add any additional information in a tabular statement that will be included in the Official Report.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister and I agree on the objectives. He stated that the projects without contractual obligations will continue until he must make the decision to say "Yay" or "Nay". What is metro west's position in this regard?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Its next stage, the railway order, is under consideration. No final decision will be made on the project until we get that order.