Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Transport the incentives he has in mind to facilitate car commuters who wish to use rail, bus or the Luas; if feeder-bus or parking facilities are anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9723/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A fundamental goal of the major investment that the Government is making in public transport is to bring about a modal shift from the private car, particularly for peak period commuting in major urban areas. This is being done by expanding capacity, improving utilisation and enhancing the quality of the public transport system.

Park and ride facilities are being developed to attract car commuters onto public transport. In Cork, a major bus-based park and ride facility has recently been developed with funding from my Department and is proving very successful. In Dublin rail-based park and ride facilities have already been developed at a number of DART, suburban rail and Luas stations. Furthermore, the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, working group on rail-based park and ride has developed a strategy for the provision of park and ride facilities at a number of locations on the existing and proposed rail network within the greater Dublin area, and has also proposed an evaluation methodology to assess the suitability of any future proposals. I am currently considering the final report detailing the locations, and factors to be considered when progressing the implementation of such facilities. Moreover, a tax incentive scheme to stimulate investment in park and ride facilities has been in place for some time.

Bus routes serving railway stations or Luas stops and dedicated feeder bus services provide an important link to rail services for commuters. However, it is a matter for bus and rail operators to plan and implement such services