Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine if he is satisfied that the proposals contained in Transport 21 are achievable within cost and time frame targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18340/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Excellent and tangible progress is being made on the implementation of Transport 21 within the available capital envelope. In 2006, 14 national road projects were completed and 11 started. In 2007, the NRA is on target to complete 9 projects and to commence 7 projects.

The momentum is also building on the implementation of the public transport programme. 183 diesel railcards will be put in service between now and 2009. Work has started on a number of important projects, including the Kildare rail upgrade, the Western Rail Corridor and the Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions. A railway order is in force for the Midleton rail project and work will start later this year. Funding has been provided to Dublin Bus for 100 additional and 100 replacement buses and to Bus Eireann for 69 additional and 166 replacement buses. Preferred alignments have been selected for Metro North, the Luas line from Cherrywood to the Bray area and the Citywest Luas extension. Planning is proceeding on a range of other projects.

Approval has been given for capital grants totalling €86 million for the country's six regional airports. Implementation of the programme is being monitored by the inter-Departmental Transport 21 Monitoring Group which reports to Government and publishes an annual progress report. Copies of the first annual report and of my Department's monthly progress reports can be found on the dedicated website www.transport21.ie.