Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which extra commuters are expected to be carried by bus in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42021/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which calculations has been made to attract more passengers off the road towards the rail services with particular reference to the commuter belt areas in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42023/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 274 together.

A fundamental objective of the public transport investment programme under Transport 21 is to increase the use of public transport use by providing fast, convenient and safe alternatives to the private car. Investment under the programme in recent years has funded a major expansion in the capacity of commuter rail, including light rail, and bus services. Capacity on the Maynooth railway line, for example, has already more than trebled in the last five years. Dublin Bus capacity has increased by approximately 30% since 1999, while LUAS has carried over 50 million passengers since its inception in mid-2004. The success of these investments is reflected in the increase in passenger carryings on these services, particularly at peak times.

Investment in heavy and light rail and in bus services will be maintained at a high level under Transport 21. It provides for a total investment of approximately €16 billion in public transport throughout the country, including approximately €770 million for upgrading bus services. Over the next five years, commuters can expect a significant increase in capacity and improvements in services on the bus, rail and Luas networks.