Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures outlined in the National Development Plan that will address the improvement of access to the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5955/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A major aim of the new National Development Plan (NDP) is to promote the development of all the regions within a co-ordinated, coherent and mutually beneficial framework. It proposes to do this through a range of measures including a major infrastructure investment programme. Chapter 3 of the Plan outlines the overall strategy for regional development.

The Economic Infrastructure Priority of the NDP includes the Transport Programme, which outlines the investment proposed for the development of the transport system over the seven years and re-affirms the Government's commitment to the projects contained in Transport 21 for that period. The investment for which my Department is responsible includes almost 13.3 billion euro for national roads, just under 13 billion euro for public transport, 96.5 million euro for regional airports and 90 million euro for the Rural Transport Initiative.

The following are among the major initiatives under Transport 21 which will improve access to the regions:

the completion of the major inter-urban motorways linking Dublin to Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;

the development of the Atlantic Road Corridor linking Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford;

the development of the rest of the national road network, including the target development of certain national secondary routes;

the provision of enhanced rail services, including hourly/two hourly services on the principal intercity routes using new rolling stock;

the phased reopening of the Western Rail Corridor;

the upgrading of regional bus services;

the provision of capital funding for the regional airports;

an initial doubling of funding for the Rural Transport Initiative and steady increases thereafter over the Plan period.