Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of funding for the provision of additional buses sought by Dublin Bus; the amount of buses this would procure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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On 20 January 2006, Dublin Bus submitted an application for funding for 200 additional buses to be provided over the two-year period 2006 to 2007 and the construction of a new garage. The projected total capital cost of the proposals contained in the application is €120 million. My Department is currently examining this application in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Finance guidelines for the appraisal of capital projects, and I will make a decision when this is completed.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to plans to provide a bus route along the R112 road in south Dublin linking both Luas lines with the DART and the 16A airport bus; and if the provision of such a route can be facilitated. [4564/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, strategy for the greater Dublin area, A Platform for Change, proposes a network of radial and orbital quality bus corridors, QBCs, and additional bus priority measures.

The proposed orbital QBC referred to by the Deputy, linking as it would a series of radial Luas lines, red and green, existing QBCs, N11 and the Rock Road, future QBCs and the DART system, Blackrock station, would be an excellent example of the progressive development of an integrated public transport system and would play an important role in promoting the use of, and integrating, public transport in the south and south western section of the Dublin region.

Statutory responsibility for the implementation of quality bus corridors rests with the relevant local authorities and a decision on proceeding with roll out is a matter for those bodies. While preliminary designs have been drawn up in respect of certain segments of the route in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, and public consultation commenced, I understand no decision has been made at this point to proceed with the project.

My Department, through the DTO traffic management grants, makes funding available for QBC development. I understand from the DTO that no funding has yet been sought to implement this project.