Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the plans for integrated ticketing; when this facility will be rolled out throughout the public transport system; the estimated cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29249/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The integrated ticketing system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is being introduced on a phased basis, based on smartcard technology. 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. The project is now firmly in the implementation phase.

A smartcard has been available on all Luas services for some time. Smartcards have also been introduced by Dublin Bus 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 disposable smartcard is now being used by some 30% of Dublin Bus customers.

Irish Rail will launch its interim smartcard for its DART and Dublin commuter services from late Summer, initially with staff testing, and then being rolled out to the public. The progressive roll-out of smartcards is in line with good practice internationally.

Subject to successful in-house testing, the single smartcard system will be rolled out initially to a small number of customers for live testing of the Dublin Bus/Luas integrated annual ticket. The full roll-out will take place throughout 2010 on Dublin Bus, Luas and Irish Rail. This means that by end 2010, the smartcard will be available to the vast majority of public transport passengers in the GDA.

Bus Éireann will commence testing in 2010 with roll-out of its pilot phase planned for Q1 2011 on a number of its services. Private bus operators are expected to join the scheme over this timeframe.

The capital budget for the single smartcard 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. Consideration will be given to the expansion of the scheme on a national basis after the completion and bedding in of the GDA scheme and subject to budget availability.