Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 234: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of funding set aside in the 2007 estimates for the funding of park and ride facilities. [39876/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the 2007 estimates and I am satisfied that, as for 2006, adequate funding will be available from my Department in 2007 to cater for all applications to my Department for funding for appropriate park and ride facilities.

Funding for Park and Ride is provided for in the investment programme in Transport 21 in several ways. In 2007, my Department will be making €5 million available for the funding of park and ride developments in the Greater Dublin Area. There will also be €15 million for a variety of bus priority and park and ride measures in the regional cities.

In 2006, my Department approved funding totalling €3.865 million for a feasibility study by Irish Rail on a car park expansion programme and for expansion-improvement works at the car parks serving Ennis, Mallow and Leixlip-Louisabridge railway stations. Just under €1 million of this approved funding is scheduled to be expended in 2007. The implementation and funding of more extensive car park expansion and improvement works will be discussed with Irish Rail when the feasibility report referred to above is available.

In addition there will be expenditure on car park provision as part of major new infrastructural works due to begin construction in 2007 including on the Kildare Route Project and the Cork Commuter Rail Project.