Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to the programme for Government commitment to provide significant infrastructural development in the mid-west area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21, the largest investment package ever in Ireland's transport infrastructure, is meeting our commitment in the Programme for Government by making a significant contribution to infrastructural development in the Mid West area. By improving and transforming transport links all around the country it provides greater options when it comes to travelling between our cities and accessing rural locations.

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned. Information on the various road projects is on my Department's Transport 21 website www.transport21.ie.

Public Transport projects funded under Transport 21 which have benefited the Limerick area include: the new InterCity railcars which have been introduced on the Limerick-Dublin route in January 2008 as part of the €402 million upgrade of the intercity fleet which will facilitate an increase in daily services from 4 to 8 each way in 2009; the upgrading of re-fuelling and maintenance facilities at Limerick Depot on which €1.75 million was spent in 2006; upgrade works on the rail system in Limerick as part of the Railway Safety Programme; improvement works on the Limerick-Ballybrophy line which included track renewal, signal upgrading, level crossings; structures and fencing facilitated an increase in services; the commencement of Limerick-Galway services on the Western Rail Corridor in 2009 will also benefit the Limerick region.

As part of the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor a new station will be opened at Sixmilebridge; 27 new buses purchased since 2000 are in use in Limerick city, funded under the NDP and Transport 21. The entire Limerick City service fleet is comprised of low-floor fully accessible vehicles.- Bus Éireann's nationwide network of Expressway and local services in Limerick is highly integrated to offer the widest range of connections possible to its customers.