Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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8. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will work with the Stormont and transport companies in the North to deliver an island-wide integrated ticketing system and to improve access to cross-Border public transport services. [45004/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The integrated ticketing system in the South and the smarter travel programme have been working very well. In regard to our northern counterparts in Stormont and transport companies in the North, what work has the Minister done to introduce a ticketing system to cover the North and the South and to improve access to cross-Border public transport services.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand from the National Transport Authority, NTA, that it has held discussions with the Department of Regional Development and Translink in Northern Ireland in order to explore the possibilities for integrated cross-Border ticketing. The current ticketing systems are incompatible and the NTA understands that Translink is in the process of putting together a tender for new ticketing equipment for the North.

Concurrently, the NTA is looking into the possibilities of the next evolution of smart ticketing across Ireland and is having discussions with Translink with a view to exploring the opportunities for collaboration. These discussions are at an early stage and at this point in time, there are no defined plans for integration. However, both NTA and Translink recognise the potential of linking up the systems and are keen to explore further.

An example of the tangible benefit cross-Border co-operation can deliver to everybody on our island is the fact that approximately €21 million has been awarded to two separate cross-Border railway projects, the Drogheda viaduct and Enterprise refurbishment project, which will significantly enhance the transport infrastructure of the region on a cross-Border basis.  This has been financed through the European Union's INTERREG IVA programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, SEUPB.  I launched the Drogheda viaduct on 7 December and the Enterprise refurbishment project will be complete by the end of this year. Both projects will enhance one of our main cross-Border infrastructure links, thereby supporting trade and tourism between the two biggest cities on the island.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am glad the authorities on both sides are at least talking but the NTA and Translink do not seem to have made huge progress. It is a pity we have not pushed this much further because many areas could benefit from rail and bus link ups and they could be made very efficient. On many occasions, we have said there should be free travel for senior citizens North and South. That issue needs to be addressed. Other areas with respect to cross-Border links include the ferry services and the canals. If a better approach was taken by officials and the transport authorities on both sides of the Border, it would greatly assist in improving our tourist figures and provide a better way for ordinary citizens to travel between the North and the South. This is an important issue and one on which we need to place more emphasis.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree that cross-Border co-operation in the transport area could deliver practical benefits to commuters in both jurisdictions. We need only consider what we are doing in the tourism area where both jurisdictions are working together successfully to deliver more than either could deliver on its own. In regard to fares and ticketing integration, discussions are under way but because the Northern Ireland Executive and its transport bodies are perhaps considering introducing a new ticketing system, we will have to let that work take place and allow them to make their decisions on how they want to do that. When that happens, I would hope there would be further opportunities for integration but that is a matter for them to work on.

With regard to cross-Border co-operation, I would respectfully say that one would not find many better examples of that than the €21 million European Union funding that both Administrations worked together to secure, the benefits of which can be seen in the co-funding of the new viaduct and the new rolling carriage that is available on the Belfast to Dublin rail line.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the funding and co-operation the Minister mentioned to seek European funding for cross-Border projects, particularly in respect of transport, but he did not reply regarding senior citizens travel. This issue could be progressed. I acknowledge that his Northern counterparts are looking at a new ticketing service. Have detailed discussions been held with them regarding the systems used here such as Smarter Travel, Leap card, apps and real time information provision and what they are doing in this regard to try to move us towards an integrated system across the island? That is important and it would have huge benefits.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Integration of our ticketing systems is very much a long-term objective but engaging and co-operating better in terms of how tickets are made available in either jurisdiction undoubtedly would be of benefit.

With regard to senior citizens travel, that will have to flow from the potentially successful conclusion of the discussions that are under way, but that can only happen if agreement is reached on how the two ticketing systems work with each other in a more effective way. A great deal of work needs to be done.