Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Transport the date for the full rollout of the integrated ticketing scheme; if this process will be delayed by the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority; if he will mandate the Integrated Ticketing Project Board to oversee the development of a real time information system across the public transport modes in tandem with the integrated ticketing project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Integrated Ticketing Project Board has responsibility for delivering the smartcard technology required to implement an integrated smart card ticketing system within an agreed specification, timeline and budget.

The Project Board submitted a comprehensive proposal to me in December 2006 setting out the timelines, scope and budget for the delivery of an integrated system.

Based on this proposal, the integrated ticketing system will be launched initially within the Greater Dublin Area in September 2009 on the services of Dublin Bus, LUAS and Morton's. It will be extended to Irish Rail DART and commuter rail services within a further 12 months, and by Bus Éireann on a pilot basis on a number of its commuter routes. It is also envisaged that other private bus operators will join the scheme over this timeframe.

The development of the integrated ticketing system is continuing in line with the programme agreed by the Project Board and it will not be delayed by the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority.

In relation to real time information, the Dublin Transport Authority will, when established, have responsibility for the provision of an integrated information scheme within the Greater Dublin Area. In the interim, I do not intend to extend the mandate of the Integrated Ticketing Project Board to cover real time information.

It is better in my view for the Project Board to continue to focus solely on the delivery of the integrated ticketing system and for the Dublin Transport Authority to develop an integrated information scheme.