Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for the development of bus and other public transport services for rural communities who currently have no access to public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31083/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Thirty-six rural community transport groups are being funded under my Department's Rural Transport Programme (RTP), which is operational in every county. These groups are working towards maximising coverage in their operational areas having regard to local public transport service needs and the availability of resources.

In addition, a number of pilot transport projects are continuing in the North East and North West to explore the potential for improved synergies between existing transport providers. The outcome of these projects, together with those of the recently completed exercise to map all transport services in County Louth and a cross-border pilot rural community transport project under the auspices of the British/Irish Council, will feed into the process for developing rural transport policy into the future.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Transport the current total estimated cost of Transport 21 over the lifetime of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31084/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under Transport 21 Exchequer funding for transport infrastructure amounting to almost €9 billion has been provided as follows over the last four years: Expenditure in 2006 - €1.937 billion Expenditure in 2007 - €2.357 billion Expenditure in 2008 - €2.504 billion Expenditure in 2009 - €2.124 billion

In addition to this, in excess of €2 billion of private investment in national roads has been secured.

The Department's capital allocation for 2010 is €2.081 billion. The Transport 21 investment framework runs until 2015. However, because of the changed economic circumstances, it is now likely that not all of the projects originally identified in Transport 21 will be completed by 2015. Therefore transport investment priorities have been reviewed. These priorities, which are set out in the Renewed programme for Government, are as follows: Future national road priorities- · the progression of the Atlantic Road Corridor, and · the improvement of other key strategic routes. Public transport priority - · increased long term capacity, particularly through – the construction of Metro North – the construction of DART Underground and the

implementation of the associated electrification,

signalling and rolling stock investments. It is also a priority to continue planning other projects for earliest possible delivery when the economic situation improves.

No projects have been cancelled and Transport 21 continues to provide the strategic framework for capital spending on transport infrastructure into the future.