Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the implementation of the integrated ticketing scheme since awarding the contract to operate the scheme to a company (details supplied) in April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35088/10]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made on the integrated ticketing project for Dublin to date; when he expects integrated ticketing to be operational across all public transport service providers; the reason it has taken so long to develop the system; the cost to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35064/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 135 together.

I have commenced section 58 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and therefore with effect from the 30th September 2010 I have assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) the functions to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing scheme in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Furthermore, in accordance with section 63(1) of the DTA Act 2008, I have also extended the functions of NTA in relation to integrated ticketing schemes to all other areas of the State.

For the information of the Deputies I will outline the position on the integrated ticketing system (ITS) for the GDA as at 30th September. The integrated ticketing system is being introduced in the 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 familiarise themselves with using the new system. 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.

As testing proves the system capability, the lead-in to the full launch of ITS e-Purse on Dublin Bus and Luas, will commence. A public launch of the ITS brand and associated marketing campaign will be implemented as part of this launch. This is expected to take place in April 2011. When this system goes live, it will facilitate cashless travel on services of participating operators, Dublin Bus and Luas initially. The integrated smart card will subsequently be rolled out to cover services provided by private bus operators, Irish Rail (DART and commuter rail) and Bus Éireann (Eastern region) following completion of the necessary development, testing and commissioning of their systems. Testing and roll-out for these service providers will commence later in 2011.

The overall capital budget for the integrated ticketing project is €55.4 million, with €31.54 million drawn down to date. In view of the assignments of the functions for integrated ticketing to the NTA, it will, from now on, be a matter which comes within the remit of the NTA who will of course keep my Department informed of progress.