Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make any funding available in 2012 in respect of a project (details supplied). [8525/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is funding an ongoing programme for public transport improvements in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and this programme is being administered on behalf of my Department by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

I am informed by the NTA that it has just recently completed, in consultation with Bus Éireann, a review of the bus network operated in the Cork metropolitan region. That review has identified various beneficial changes to the bus network which will be implemented by Bus Éireann over the coming months.

Arising from that review and the resultant network changes, the NTA are examining with the relevant local authorities the bus corridor improvements that should be implemented to support the revised service pattern. Associated with that exercise, an analysis is being undertaken by the NTA on appropriate funding allocations to the Cork region for 2012 under the public transport grant funding programme and my Department expects the NTA's recommendations in this regard within the next few weeks.

The issue of potential bus priority measures to support bus routes to Douglas / Carrigaline will be considered as part of that process.