Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Transport the timescale for the implementation and full operation of plans for an automatic vehicle location system, real time information system and integrated ticketing system in Dublin Bus and other public bus transport companies; the cost for implementing integrated ticketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39536/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from Dublin Bus that the AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) system has been developed and that the installation of on-bus equipment across the PSO fleet has been completed on 350 buses. The system is expected to be deployed to all PSO routes at Summerhill depot by the end of 2009. A phased deployment will follow, on a depot by depot basis, until all routes are operational by the end of 2010.

The deployment of Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) will follow on from the deployment of the AVL system. The initial deployment of real time information will be on mobile phones (using SMS text messaging) and the internet. Full deployment of this real time information service will coincide with completion of the full rollout of the AVL system at the end of 2010. I understand from Dublin City Council that the installation of on-street Real Time Passenger Information is also due to be completed by the end of 2010.

With regard to the integrated ticketing system, subject to successful in-house testing, the single smartcard will be rolled out initially to a small number of Dublin Bus testers for live consumer testing of the Dublin Bus/Luas integrated annual ticket and then to a small number of customers in early 2010. By end-2010, smartcards with a "pay-as-you-go" function will be available to some 75% of public transport customers in the GDA. It is anticipated that private bus operators, along with Irish Rail Dart & Commuter Rail services, and Bus Éireann on a pilot basis, will join the scheme in 2011. The overall capital budget for the integrated ticketing project is €55.4 million.