Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Transport the changes he intends to make to the Transport 21 plan in view of the Forfás report on oil dependence here; the long term predictions on traffic volumes which underpinned that plan; and the assumed oil price within the transport models that were used in that regard. [16279/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department identified sustainability as a key objective in its Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 and it was taken fully into account in preparing Transport 21. Transport 21 aims to optimise the efficiency of the overall transport network, which will result in more economic use of oil.

Transport 21 also provides for a major re-balancing in favour of public transport. It will see public transport capacity in the Greater Dublin Area almost double over the period of this investment programme. A substantial portion of the Dublin suburban rail network will be electrified. It will also see major investment in the national rail network, with improved and more frequent mainline rail services and the development of the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork suburban rail network. There will also be significant investment in regional and local bus services.

The roads investment under Transport 21 will result in a more efficient, free-flowing road network, with consequent fuel economies.

Transport 21 also provides funding for a range of sustainable transport initiatives. The purpose of these initiatives is to facilitate the mainstreaming of sustainability criteria into transport investment decision-making and to make cleaner, more environmentally-friendly vehicles available, embracing public transport, the haulage industry and taxis. These initiatives include pilot projects for biofuel and hybrid-electric technologies, and eco-driving. My Department is engaging with the relevant sectors to progress these initiatives.