Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce bus rapid transit routes in Dublin and other cities in Ireland; if he foresees the provision of capital funding for these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40831/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), comes under the remit of the NTA.  The NTA is also managing the Regional Cities Programme on behalf of my Department. Funding for initial design and planning of suitable BRT schemes in the GDA has been included in the NTA's budget allocation to 2016 under the Government's 5-year capital programme Infrastructure & Capital Investment 2012-2016 - Medium Term Exchequer Framework. Subsequent implementation of these schemes in the GDA  will, if prioritised in the next capital plan, be progressed on an incremental basis in accordance with available funding.

In relation to the regional cities while there has been some preliminary work undertaken in Galway and Cork on new public transport systems such projects are not prioritised in the current capital plan and consequently no funding is available to progress these projects at this time.  Funding is provided under the Regional Cities Programme to improve existing public transport services including for the development of bus lanes, green routes, other bus priority measures, rail and bus station improvements, integration and information measures  and also for safety measures for pedestrians & cyclists in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

I will of course  be reviewing  the public transport requirements and priorities for the regional cities in  preparing the transport programme for the next capital plan from 2017. Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.