Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is currently preparing a new national park and ride strategy to develop and enhance park and ride facilities for commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31094/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has developed a national sustainable travel and transport policy for Ireland, - "Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future" - published in February 2009. This policy document represents a new transport policy for Ireland for the period 2009-2020 and amongst other things, it sets out the necessary steps to ensure that people choose more sustainable transport modes. One of the actions contained in the policy in relation to public transport is to provide park and ride facilities at the edge of major and intermediate urban centres and at important public transport nodes, with efficient transport connections to the urban centre.

Since 1st December 2009, traffic management measures and park & ride facilities in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) are matters which come under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Outside of the GDA my Department is funding bus priority and park and ride measures in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford under Transport 21. It is a matter for the local authorities in each city to prioritise projects and apply for funding in each year. In the current year funding of €900,000 is being provided for park & ride facilities.

Public Transport Feasibility Studies in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford which are being carried out by consultants appointed by the relevant local authorities, with funding from the Department, are examining the most appropriate and feasible public transport systems for these cities. These studies, which have been completed or are nearing completion, will be considered by my Department in making future decisions on how best to enhance public transport in the four cities, including park and ride facilities.