Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 883: To ask the Minister for Transport when an integrated ticketing system will be introduced in the greater Dublin area; if he will indicate the total estimated cost of the ITS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33383/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The integrated ticketing system is being introduced in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) on a phased basis, based on smartcard technology. A progressive approach is being adopted to permit the ITS Project Team and transport operators undertake the necessary testing with the integration of the technologies involved and to allow customers to familiarize themselves with using the new system. The project is now firmly in the implementation phase with extensive testing of elements of the system well underway. The system must be thoroughly tested to ensure that the scheme provided to customers is stable, safe and reliable.

Intensive pilot testing of an integrated smartcard for the Dublin Bus/Luas Annual Pass by staff is currently underway, to be followed in October 2010 with a live customer pilot. This will be followed by similar testing for ePurse (pay-as-you-go) users of Dublin Bus and Luas services.