Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Department of Transport

Public Transport

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding public transport services in the Artane, Beaumont and Coolock areas in Dublin 5. [13982/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of Dublin Bus services and any decision by Dublin Bus to alter any of its services are part of the day-to-day responsibilities of that company.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in supplying additional buses to Dublin Bus under the national development plan; if he is aware that the non-provision of same is preventing Dublin Bus from providing 15 additional buses to serve the Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and Lucan areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Significant investment has been made to date under the national development plan, NDP, in acquiring new buses for Dublin Bus. In addition, significant Exchequer funding has been provided for a new depot for these buses. As a consequence, the capacity of the fleet has been increased by nearly 25% since 1999 and the company is now carrying approximately 150 million passengers per annum. Some 418 buses have been purchased by Dublin Bus since 1999 with the assistance of Exchequer and EU funds.

In addition to the significant Exchequer investment in Dublin Bus in recent years, significant investment has been made under the NDP in other public transport modes such as Luas, the Maynooth and Kildare suburban rail lines and the DART. In light of the significant expansion of rail capacity and considering demographic changes in the city, the management of Dublin Bus is examining whether capacity on certain corridors might be better utilised to meet growing demand elsewhere. I await the outcome of this review.

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Transport the current passenger capacity of the DART; the likely cost to Iarnród Éireann of doubling that capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14064/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by Iarnród Éireann that the DART fleet now comprises 154 carriages, following the recent delivery of 40 new carriages. The capacity of the system is around 27,000 passengers in the peak hour. A new DART carriage costs almost €2 million. The fleet has almost doubled in size from 80 carriages in 2000 and the company considers that when the current DART upgrade programme is completed later this year and eight carriage trains are in operation, the capacity of the fleet will be of sufficient size to cater for demand for the foreseeable future.

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Transport the proportion of GDP being allocated to funding public transport in 2005; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14065/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years, the Government has allocated approximately 5% of GNP to capital investment across all sectors of the economy which compares with an EU average of around 2.5%. In 2005, the transport allocation is around €1.8 billion, which represents approximately 27% of the overall capital budget. The public transport allocation at around €480 million is 26% of the transport total. The average allocation for public transport across the EU is not readily available.

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will consider establishing a Dublin transport authority; the likely cost to the Exchequer of such a body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14066/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government consultation paper, New Institutional Arrangements for Land-Use and Transport in the Greater Dublin Area, was published jointly by the Departments of the Environment and Local Government and Public Enterprise in April, 2001. The paper proposed the establishment of a new strategic land use and transportation planning authority for the greater Dublin area. Developments since the publication of this consultation document have caused a review of the proposals.

The national spatial strategy was published in December 2002 and, arising from that strategy, the regional authorities have finalised regional planning guidelines under the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000. These provide effective regional land use strategies consistent with the national spatial strategy. The Dublin and mid-east regional authorities have collaborated to produce a single set of guidelines for the greater Dublin area which were published on 8 July last. These guidelines recommend a number of specific actions required for the further development of transport in the region. The guidelines also recommend a number of policy principles that are to be pursued in that regard.

The relevant agencies investing in transport in the region are now developing their plans in the light of the guidelines. In particular, the guidelines provide an important guidance to the Dublin Transportation Office in its input into all development plans and planning applications in the greater Dublin area.

In the light of the developments in the intervening period, I am of the view that the establishment of a greater Dublin land use transportation authority is not now a priority in seeking to improve the transport system for Dublin. However, I intend to keep this issue under review as we proceed with the preparation of the proposed ten year transport investment plan.

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is appropriate to double the availability of park and ride facilities at DART and suburban railway stations; the likely cost of such action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14067/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of park and ride facilities is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. Iarnród Éireann informs me it has utilised all available sites in the ownership of the CIE Group for the purpose of providing park and ride sites. The company has indicated that it would be happy to liaise with local authorities to determine whether lands in their ownership may be used for the provision of additional facilities for rail users.

In addition, 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. It has also proposed an evaluation methodology to assess the suitability of any future proposals. I am currently considering the final report of that group detailing the locations and factors to be considered when progressing the implementation of such facilities.

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for additional public bus stock and the development of bus and cycle lanes; the funding being provided for such in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14068/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Significant investment has been made to date under the national development plan in acquiring new buses for Dublin Bus. In addition, significant Exchequer funding has been provided for a new depot for these buses. As a consequence, the capacity of the fleet has been increased by nearly 25% since 1999 and the company is now carrying approximately 150 million passengers per annum.

My Department is providing funding of approximately €1.2 million towards the company's fleet replacement programme for 2005. Given the demands on the multi-annual capital budget negotiated by my Department with the Department of Finance, prudent management requires that my Department is satisfied regarding the utilisation of existing resources before considering additional funding. In this context, the management of Dublin Bus is currently examining ways of maximising the utilisation of the bus fleet, in light of the significant investment made to date under the NDP in other modes such as Luas, suburban rail and the DART upgrade. I await the outcome of this review.

A key element in improving public transport in the Dublin area has been the provision of quality bus corridors, QBCs. The QBCs are making a significant contribution in terms of greater patronage and increased bus speeds. So far, there are nine QBCs in operation in the Dublin area, Malahide, Lucan, Stillorgan, Finglas, north Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Swords and Blanchardstown.

It is proposed to complete a number of quality bus corridor projects in the course of 2005, accounting for a total of about 40 km in length. The sections of new QBCs that will be completed in 2005 depend on the outcome of public consultation and tendering processes. Funding for the QBCs is provided through the Department of Transport's traffic management grants scheme which is administered by the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO. I have allocated €40 million to the traffic management grants scheme for 2005 and I understand that the DTO steering committee has decided to allocate 85% of this amount for the design, development and implementation of bus priority schemes in 2005.

Cycle facilities will be developed in conjunction with the implementation of bus priority schemes. Grants to the value of €1million for 2005 have been approved by the DTO steering committee to date, for expenditure on cycle provision in the DTO area over and above those facilities provided as part of bus schemes.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of passengers carried by Dublin Bus in the morning peak hour for the year 2004. [14129/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by Dublin Bus that in 2004 the company carried approximately 94,000 passengers per weekday in the morning peak, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount allocated in each year since 1997 for the provision or enhancement of bus corridors in Dublin. [14130/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The amounts allocated for each year since 1997 for the provision or enhancement of quality bus corridors in Dublin are as follows:

Year Amount Allocated â'¬
1997 1.5 million
1998 3.7 million
1999 8.6 million
2000 17.8 million
2001 23.4 million
2002 15.1 million
2003 18.6 million
2004 28.1 million

Funding for the QBCs is provided through the Department of Transport's traffic management grants scheme which is administered by the Dublin Transportation Office. I have allocated €40 million to the traffic management grants scheme for 2005 and I understand that the DTO steering committee has decided to allocate 85% of this amount for the design, development and implementation of bus priority schemes in 2005.

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