Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the funding provided to sustainable transport initiatives under Transport 21 to date. [19991/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21, which is a €34.3 billion capital investment framework for the period 2006-2015, is predicated on delivering a more sustainable transport system. It aims to promote modal shift from private cars to public transport through the significant rebalancing of investment in favour of public transport. Overall €18.5 billion will be invested in the national roads programme, while €15.8 billion will be provided for public transport projects and for regional airports.

Funding for a range of initiatives linked to sustainability is also provided for under Transport 21, including grant assistance for the provision of cycle paths, schools and workplace initiatives to change travel behaviour. A specific heading in Transport 21 refers to sustainable transport measures. Two projects are being funded under this heading at present. The first is a pilot scheme to convert 50 selected vehicles to run on pure plant oil, which is being carried out under the aegis of the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The cost to the Department is €227,000. In addition, funding is being made available to Dublin Bus to lease a hybrid bus to test its performance in operating conditions at an estimated cost of €500,000 over three years. I expect that this bus will be delivered in early 2008.

I expect that further sustainable transport initiatives will emerge in the context of a proposed Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan, which I hope to publish in 2008.