Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Transport his input regarding the implementation of Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3315/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Immediately following the launch of Transport 21 on 1 November last I met the chairmen and chief executives of all the implementing agencies and mandated them to proceed with the implementation of the investment programme in accordance with the targets set in Transport 21.

Significant progress has been made to date. Applications for railway orders for the Luas extension to Cherrywood and Docklands have been made. I have approved funding for a 10 m extension of the trams used on the Tallaght line, increasing passenger capacity by 40%, and for the purchase of an additional 30 mainline railcars, bringing the total to 150. The NRA recently announced its 2006 investment programme which will see work start on 15 new projects and the completion of 13 projects, meaning that more than 400 km of national road will be started or completed this year.

I have already established a dedicated division in my Department to oversee the implementation of all aspects of Transport 21. In addition, I will establish a high-level monitoring group shortly to be chaired by my Department and comprising representatives of relevant Departments and the State agencies with responsibility for implementing the projects in Transport 21. The main role of the group will be to monitor implementation of Transport 21, ensure adequate appraisal procedures are in place and review prioritisation of projects to ensure optimum effectiveness of the implementation programme.

I am also on record as saying that we need a new approach to transport in the greater Dublin area, specifically for the delivery of Transport 21. I have proposed the establishment of a Dublin transport authority with the power to ensure joined-up thinking and delivery across all transport modes. I have appointed a team chaired by Professor Margaret O'Mahony to finalise the remit, structures and human resource requirements of the proposed authority and I expect to receive the team's report in the near future. I intend to bring proposals to the Government for decision as soon as I have considered the report of the team.