Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1130: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received proposals for park and ride facilities under Transport 21; and the details of same. [29994/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Park and ride facilities have an important role in making it easier for people to access and transfer to public transport. Last summer I approved a Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) strategy for rail-based park and ride facilities, which envisages facilities at 22 locations on the existing and proposed rail network within the greater Dublin area.

This year I set aside €5 million in capital funding for the development under Transport 21. Applications will be evaluated according to their business cases and against the strategic value they offer, as assessed against the DTO strategy. Funding is also being made available under Transport 21 for park and ride in the regional cities.

The DTO has been consulted on preliminary designs for a 320 space park and ride at Leixlip/Louisa Bridge Station that is being proposed by Iarnród Éireann and my Department has approved funding for this project. The DTO has recently worked with Iarnród Éireann and Meath County Council to progress the provision of a new 250 space park and ride facility at Laytown rail station, replacing a 90 space car park.

Funding is also being made available under Transport 21 for bus priority measures and park and ride in the regional cities. It is a matter for the local authorities in each regional city to prioritise the most suitable locations for park and ride and to apply to my Department for funding for the capital cost of appropriate park and ride facilities. Any applications received from local authorities will be considered on a first come first served basis and will be evaluated according to their business cases. I have not yet received any applications for the development of park and ride facilities in the regional cities in 2006, but I understand that several authorities are considering possible sites.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1131: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will provide the funding requested by Dublin Bus for the provision of 200 additional buses. [29998/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently considering an application from Dublin Bus for funding for 200 additional buses to be delivered in 2006 and 2007. The application is being considered in the context of Transport 21, the bus network review completed by Dublin Bus and the bus market reform process. I expect to make an announcement shortly on the application having regard to the outcome of Government deliberations on bus market reform.