Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Transport the continency plan in existence in the event of wide scale public transport strikes; the role his Department has in any CIE rescue package; if he can predict the 2009 CIE deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13782/09]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Transport the action that is being taken to ensure that bus services in Dublin remain available to the public at the current levels despite the economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13753/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the implications of the potential withdrawal of 120 buses by Dublin Bus for the programme for Government commitments to reduce travelling times and traffic congestion, protect the environment and deliver real commuting choices to people. [13635/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport the contacts he has had with Dublin Bus management and unions on the industrial relations crises at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann; the action he is taking to utilise all of the industrial relations mechanisms of the State to avoid disruptions to bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13667/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 41, 47 and 62 together.

The response to any widescale disruption of public transport services due to strike action will be based on the optimisation of other travel modes such as cars, private bus services, taxi and hackney services, walking and cycling. It is premature to speculate on contingency plans when talks are continuing between the parties involved on the matter. Regarding CIÉ's finances, the company has projected an operating deficit of up to €100 million in 2009 in the absence of corrective action. The CIÉ companies have prepared cost recovery plans, which, together with Exchequer subvention of €313 million and an average fares increase of 10% for 2010, are designed to eliminate this deficit over the period 2009 and 2010. It is imperative that CIE achieves the measures necessary to restore its financial situation as it is not open to the State, under EU rules, to allocate funds to compensate for losses of the kind now being incurred.

The position in relation to Dublin Bus services is that the company is currently seeking, with the assistance of the Labour Court, to secure agreement on a cost recovery plan involving, inter alia, a pay pause, some redundancies, revised work practices, and the withdrawal of some buses. Decisions in relation to the deployment and withdrawal of buses are a matter for Dublin Bus. I understand, however, that the withdrawal of 120 buses by Dublin Bus is driven by an increase in costs and falling passenger numbers and will be implemented so as to minimise the overall effect on customers and quality of service. Furthermore, I understand that the company wishes to implement their cost recovery plan with least impact on staff numbers.

It is opportune also that the Deloitte report on the cost and efficiency of bus services, which Dublin Bus will be implementing, provides a framework for the development of a more efficient and effective bus service in Dublin carrying more passengers at a lower cost. The Review concluded that timetables are not sufficiently coordinated in areas served by multiple routes and that bunching is a significant problem due not only to congestion but also to a lack of even headways between buses. The Review also recommended addressing pinch points along corridors to ease congestion. I am certain that these recommendations when implemented will attract more people to become public transport users and ultimately protect the environment.

I have been briefed by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann on their declining financial position, the cost recovery plans proposed to deal with this, and on the efforts being made to reach agreement with unions on the early implementation of these plans. In the context of meetings relating to the bus cost and efficiency review, the unions briefed me on their position in relation to the proposed cost recovery plans. As I indicated to the union representatives at those meetings, the reconciliation of industrial relations issues in CIÉ and its subsidiary companies is a matter for the companies and the unions and, if necessary, the industrial relations machinery of the State. Both Dublin Bus and its unions are participating in Labour Court hearings relating to Dublin Bus' cost recovery and effectiveness plan.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress there has been to date in the implementation of the Deloitte report dealing with bus market reform; if he has set a specific timeframe for Dublin Bus to achieve certain goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13780/09]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the Deloitte cost and efficiency review of the bus sector; if he has accepted all of the report's recommendations; if he will seek to implement them in full; if so, the timeframe and mechanism for implementation; the way he will invigilate these processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 45 together.

The Deloitte Report, the recommendations of which I accept in full, sets out a series of measures which are designed to enhance the role of the bus. In my statement accompanying the release of the report on 26th January, I indicated areas where the report had identified considerable scope within Dublin Bus to improve its services to customers, increase efficiencies and save money through, for example, redesigning the network, eliminating unnecessary service duplication and improving information to the customer. In response to my request both companies have submitted detailed plans for the implementation of the report's recommendations in line with the indicative timelines set out in the report. My Department will shortly be responding to the plans and finalising the arrangement to be put in place for reporting on and monitoring implementation. In the meantime, both companies have commenced work in relation to implementation.

The early implementation of the recommendations in the report and other cost saving measures are vital for dealing with the current financial situation of both companies as it is not open to the State to compensate for the kind of losses now being incurred. Furthermore, implementation of some recommendations in the report relating to bus priority, integrated ticketing, demand management measures, bus licensing and the move to PSO contracts are already being pursued by my Department in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, the DTO and the RPA where appropriate.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Transport when the full integrated ticketing scheme will come on stream; the estimated cost for developing and implementing integrated ticketing; if Bus Éireann will be fully incorporated into the integrated ticketing scheme; if there are plans to develop a universal and nationwide bus, rail and light rail ticket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13692/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Transport when the integrated ticketing project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13649/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 23 together.

The integrated ticketing system in the Greater Dublin Area is being introduced on a phased basis, based on smart card technology, over the period to the end of 2010. A progressive approach is being adopted to allow customers to familiarise themselves with using the new system and to permit transport operators to undertake the necessary testing with the integration of the technologies involved. A smart card for Luas services has been available on all Luas services for some time. Smart cards are also now in use on Dublin Bus services in respect of a number of ticket products such as annual and monthly tickets, 5-day rambler tickets, and annual and monthly integrated bus and rail and bus and Luas tickets.

The next step will be the launch by Irish Rail of an interim smart card scheme from late summer. Following that, it is planned later this year to introduce a single smart card on a progressive basis for Dublin Bus and Luas services which will have electronic purse capability. This capability will allow a pay-as-you-go system similar to the systems used for mobile phones and, when operational early next year, will facilitate cashless travel on services of all participating operators. The single smart card will then be extended to Irish Rail DART and commuter rail services within the following 12 months. It is envisaged that private bus operators will join the scheme over this timeframe.

During 2010, Bus Éireann will introduce the single smart card system on a pilot basis on a number of its commuter routes within the Greater Dublin Area. The Company will then evaluate the feasibility of extending the scheme to include its whole network in the Greater Dublin Area. Accordingly, during 2010 smartcards with an electronic purse will be available to almost all public transport users in the Greater Dublin Area. The overall budget of the project is €55.4 million. While the current scope and focus of the single smart card scheme is the Greater Dublin Area, the mandate for the scheme is national in scope. The potential to develop a nationwide ticket will be reviewed when consideration is being given to expanding the Scheme on a national basis.