Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I thank the Minister for recent correspondence on the issue I raise. While I was pleased to receive a comprehensive account regarding some public transport projects being funded from the Exchequer capital transport envelope, I am disappointed it is proving difficult to draw a clear line between investment in the greater Dublin area and the rest of the country, specifically Cork city and county. The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate that 44% of the State's total urban population lives in Dublin. We must also remember, however, that 11% of the population lives in Cork city and the recent census indicated the city's population had increased by 5.4%. In addition, 37% of the population of the State lives in rural areas. The population of Cork county showed one of the largest increases in population in the country. The percentage population growth in Cork city and county is comparable with growth in any of the local authority areas in greater Dublin, with the exception of Fingal.

My independent colleagues in Cork city and county councils, in particular, Councillor Marcia D'Alton, inform me that in the recent joint submission to the national planning framework, Cork 2050, the councils identified a sustainable transport network to underpin spatial, social and economic expansion as being of critical importance. The councils believe the transport network should facilitate the prioritisation of public transport, walking and cycling. The joint councils correctly identified Cork city and county as a complementary location to Dublin with strong international connections and as a primary driver of economic and population growth in the southern region. While the councils are working hard to achieve these goals, how can their plan be progressed if essential figures on a breakdown of capital transport expenditure are not readily available, particularly when this is such an important part of A Programme for a Partnership Government and the strategic investment framework for land transport?

I am disappointed and bewildered that while the Government is in the process of undertaking a mid-term review of the infrastructure and capital programme, the figures for projects in cities and regions outside Dublin are not readily available. Without such information, we are to assume that most of the investment is being directed either towards the greater Dublin area or, failing that, towards other metropolitan areas and is not being quantified. Either scenario is a disaster for citizens, elected representatives, planners and businesses.

I thank the Minister for his time and hope his Department or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be able to throw some light on this issue for me and independent councillors, particularly in the Cork city and country area.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Senator Craughwell for raising this important matter, particularly in respect of Cork city and county, and for the opportunity to address the House on the issue. As the Senator pointed out, funding of €3.6 billion has been allocated for public transport in the Government's capital plan. The funding for the transport elements of the plan is for a seven-year period from 2016 to 2022. The focus of this investment, particularly in the early years of the capital plan, is on achieving essential steady-state maintenance of our existing public transport network, particularly the heavy rail network, throughout the country to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose.

From time to time, a misunderstanding arises that there is a vast sum of money available to develop motorways countrywide. As the Senator will be aware, we are still struggling to maintain the roads at current standards and even this will not be fully possible for another year or two. Expenditure on new roads or motorways will result in reduced funding for other projects meaning other roads will suffer. From 2019 onwards, however, we will spend much more on new infrastructure. While I accept that is a long time to wait, that is the financial reality.

In recent correspondence to the Senator, I provided an overview of how the €3.6 billion allocation for public transport will be spent. As I outlined, it is not possible to draw a clear line between investments in the greater Dublin area and outside the area in all cases.For example, the funding of approximately €1.3 billion allocated in the capital plan for the maintenance of the heavy rail network, which is more than one third of the total funding available for public transport, will benefit all areas of the heavy rail network within and outside the greater Dublin area.

The Senator specifically requested details of the funding available for capital investment in Cork city and county. I will outline recent and planned investment in public transport in Cork. Funding is provided under the capital plan for sustainable transport projects and accessibility programmes in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. These programmes are administered by the National Transport Authority. Over €70 million has been allocated over the period of the capital plan for sustainable projects in the regional cities and for accessibility programmes. Between 2014 and 2016, more than €15 million was allocated to Cork city and county councils under the regional cities and accessibility programmes. Over the remaining years of the capital plan, it is anticipated that public transport investment in the Cork metropolitan area will represent a continuation of the current focus of the investment programme.

In the case of the Cork City Council area, this investment has been focused on the implementation of the city centre movement strategy on a number of radially-based strategy transport corridors linking the city centre with the city suburbs and county environs. The principal objective of the city centre movement strategy is to improve access to the city centre through the reallocation of road space, leading to an improvement in the environment for public transport vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The overall city centre movement strategy was approved by the city council and phases 1 and 2 are already at construction stage in 2017.

The full strategy includes a further six phases and these are intended for implementation over the coming years. Three strategic corridor studies were completed with funding provided between 2013 and 2017. These focused on the south east, south west, south central and north sides of the city. The purpose of these studies is to inform the development of a high-quality core bus network and improve walking and cycling links over time, complementing the objectives of the city centre movement strategy. Several schemes have already been progressed in Mahon. The intention is to continue on this basis with further schemes being progressed on corridors in the south east, south west and north city areas over the coming years.

In the case of the Cork county metropolitan area, the regional cities investment programme will continue to be focused on the Douglas area based on the recommendations of the Douglas land use and transportation study. The principal objectives of that study are to reduce congestion, improve local connectivity by sustainable transport modes and improve the performance of the many bus services operating through the area. The aim is to complement the transport investment in the city centre and strategic corridors.

The Senator will be aware that a mid-term review of the capital plan is currently under way. I will be seeking to significantly improve the funding available for public transport over the remaining years of the plan to meet increasing demand, to tackle congestion in the greater Dublin area and our regional cities, including Cork in particular, as well as to help to deliver on meeting our climate obligations by reducing emissions from the transport sector.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I suppose that when we are talking about capital investment and projects such as this one it might be helpful to publish figures upfront for the various metropolitan areas or large urban areas outside the greater Dublin area. The Minister will be aware of the number of times people like him and me, who live in the capital, are accused of ensuring that the capital is well-looked-after while the rest of the country is forgotten. When the plan is published, if the details for each of the cities and counties were published at the same time, it might move the focus away from that type of accusation.

I thank the Minister for his time and for the answer he has given me today.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I understand the frustration that some people outside Dublin feel. The view is that maybe the Dublin area gets undue attention and some believe it gets disproportionate funds. While I do not think that is the case, I can understand why some hold that view. When high-profile projects like Luas cross-city and others come along - the metro north project probably will not be coming along for another ten years - perhaps some people associated with regional cities believe they are somewhat neglected.Perhaps I should repeat the figures. The NTA allocated funding of more than €15 million to Cork city and county councils between 2014 and 2016, of which €11.7 million went to Cork City Council and €3.6 million to Cork County Council. In excess of €5 million has been provisionally allocated by the NTA to Cork city and county councils under the regional cities programme. The council to which the Senator referred approved the overall city centre movement strategy last year or the year before. Phases 1 and 2 are already at construction in 2017.

A battle for funds is inevitable between the main cities. Dublin is bigger, and therefore congestion is worse here. I take the Senator's point. I was in Cork the other day and became very aware of the congestion that is prevalent there. However, the scale of the problem in Dublin is much greater. We will address the issue of Cork in as equitable a way as possible, particularly in the mid-term capital review.