Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport the consideration which has been given to passenger issues in a multi-provider public bus service environment regarding timetabling, bus stop, bus terminus provision and integrated ticketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10001/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport has adopted a set of guiding principles on integrated transport which inform its approach to policy and project developments across the Department. The guiding principles are set out in the Department's statement of strategy 2005-07.

There is also a major emphasis on integration in the Transport 21 investment programme. There is a particular focus on the development of an integrated multi-modal public transport system in the greater Dublin area, with attention being paid to the various facets of integration, including service integration, interchange, park and ride, ticketing and information.

As regards the specific projects to which the Deputy refers, Bus Éireann is particularly conscious of timetabling its services to link to rail services and to provide integrated services across the country.

The approval of bus stops is a matter for local authorities who consult with operators and the Garda Síochána and the achievement of integration as far as possible at the local level is one of the considerations taken into account.

There is a significant degree of integration of ticketing at the present time. Integrated tickets are available for transfer between Luas, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail services and between Luas and some private operators. Separately, an integrated ticketing scheme using smart technology is being developed.

As we move more and more towards a multi-modal and multi-operator transport system, and developing legislation in that regard, I will be reviewing the extent to which current legal provisions support integration in such an environment. In this context, my mandate to the Dublin Transportation Authority establishment team asked it, when considering the remit of the proposed authority, to have regard to the delivery of an integrated system for the greater Dublin area. I expect to receive the team's report shortly.