Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport when the integrated ticketing project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46384/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the integrated ticketing project; the final completion date for the full integrated ticketing scheme; the estimated costs for developing and implementing integrated ticketing; if Bus Éireann will be fully incorporated into the integrated ticketing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46374/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.

A smart card for public transport services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is available on Luas services. In recent months all buses in the Dublin Bus fleet have been fitted with smart card validators and smart cards are now in use on these buses in respect of a number of ticket products such as annual and monthly bus tickets, annual and monthly integrated bus and rail tickets and 5-day rambler tickets.

Irish Rail will launch its own interim smart card scheme from next summer. These smart card schemes will enable both users and operators to familiarise themselves with the use and flexibilities of smart card systems in advance of the introduction of the single smart card scheme.

From late next year, a single smart card will be introduced for ticket products on Dublin Bus and Luas services. This smart card will also have an electronic purse capability for use on both services.

This single smart card system will then be extended to Irish Rail DART and commuter rail services within a further 12 months. The new gating systems at Irish Rail stations in the GDA have been designed to handle the new smart card.

In relation to Bus Éireann, the smart card will be introduced on a pilot basis on a number of its commuter routes in late 2010. It is also envisaged that private bus operators will join the scheme over this timeframe.

The overall capital budget for the project is €55.4 million.