Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine when the legislation to establish a Dublin transport authority will be published. [18120/07]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine when legislation to establish a Dublin transport authority will be published; when it will be fully operational. [18101/07]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine when he will introduce legislation to provide for the Dublin transport authority. [17893/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 51 and 77 together.

Prior to the dissolution of the 29th Dáil, significant progress was made on the preparation of legislation to establish a statutory Dublin Transport Authority. Mr. Tom Mulcahy was also appointed as chairman designate of the proposed Authority last February to commence the process of putting the necessary organisational arrangements in place.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority. I am currently consulting my Ministerial colleagues and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval for the publication of a Dublin Transport Authority Bill in the immediate future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine his plans to prioritise specific elements of Transport 21. [18069/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Programme identifies clear transport investment priorities which are largely consistent with the existing Transport 21 plans. The Programme commits the Government to the ongoing review of our transport needs and where agreed to proceed with new projects. The Programme also refers to a number of studies to be undertaken which will inform that review.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine if it is his intention to increase the number of public transport projects which are due to be developed under Transport 21. [18119/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Programme refers to studies of a number of additional public transport projects as follows:

extending Luas to Rathfarnham subject to a feasibility study,

examining the feasibility of reopening the railway line from Claremorris to Sligo,

conducting feasibility studies to be completed within two years into Luas-style light rail transit systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford,

exploring the use of high speed trains on the Cork-Dublin route

further development of the Dublin-Belfast rail route.

It also commits the Government to continue to review our transport needs and where agreed to proceed with new projects. That ongoing review will take account of the findings of the various studies referred to in the programme.