Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the ongoing integrated ticketing project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33201/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Integrated Ticketing Project Board was established last year with responsibility to deliver the smartcard technology required to deliver an integrated smart card ticketing system within an agreed specification, timeline and budget. The Project Board submitted a comprehensive proposal for the delivery of the project, setting out the timelines, scope and budget for the Integrated Ticketing Project. The proposal put the expected capital cost of the integrated ticketing system at €49.6 million. On the 1st June, my Department wrote to the Chairman of the Project Board authorising him to proceed with the implementation of the project along the lines proposed by the Board.

Integrated ticketing will be launched initially on the scheduled services of Dublin Bus, LUAS and Morton's Coaches, a private bus operator, by September 2009. Irish Rail DART and commuter rail services will be included within a further 12 months, and Bus Eireann will implement a pilot scheme on one of its commuter routes in the Greater Dublin Area. It is also envisaged the other private bus operators will also join the integrated ticketing system over this timeframe. The Board has recently agreed a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the role, responsibilities, actions and commitments to the integrated ticketing project of each of the parties for the effective and successful delivery of the integrated ticketing system. The procurement system for the Back Office clearing system to govern transactions between operators is currently underway. The Chairman of the Integrated Ticketing Project Board has informed me, in his recent report, that good progress is being made on the Project in accordance with the agreed programme.