Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects integrated ticketing will be available between services on Dublin Bus and the Luas rail lines. [3201/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system, which will enable a passenger to use a single ticket on one or more scheduled public transport services, by road and by rail, irrespective of the transport operator involved, is being developed by the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and will be introduced on a phased basis, initially in the Dublin area.

I am informed by the RPA that the launch of smartcards on Luas services will take place shortly. Dublin Bus will follow, with smartcards on its services later this year. Smartcard-based integrated ticketing should be available between services on Dublin Bus and Luas by early 2006. In the interim, Dublin Bus and Luas already offer some combined bus-Luas tickets for passengers who wish to avail of both services.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The national development plan, NDP, provides for the purchase by Dublin Bus of 275 additional buses and 500 replacement buses over period 2000 to 2006.

In 1999, the Exchequer provided funding to Dublin Bus for 150 additional buses. Between 2000 and 2004, 460 buses were purchased by Dublin Bus. A total of 93 of the 460 buses were additional and were purchased in 2000. Expenditure under the NDP comprises a combination of Exchequer, EU and the company's own funding. A total of 174 buses were funded directly from the Exchequer in the period 2000 to 2002. As part of its normal commercial activities, Dublin Bus funds its fleet replacement programme from its own resources.

I have been advised by Bus Átha Cliath that the total number of buses in the fleet from 1997 to 2004, including a maintenance reserve and over-age buses prior to the NDP, is as follows:

I understand the management of Dublin Bus is currently examining ways of maximising the utilisation of the existing bus fleet in light of the significant investment made to date under the national development plan, including investment in other modes and the ongoing changes in demand patterns for Dublin. In this context, it would be premature to make any decisions on further investment in additional capacity.