Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport alternatives being considered for the North Kildare region; the rail options that will be prioritised to alleviate the commuter congestion on the existing roads network; his views that without such investment, in tandem with essential motorway and dual carriageway upgrade works at Naas, in County Kildare, such road upgrades will be at maximum capacity, once they are built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39243/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), recently published a draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area for the period 2016-2035. The draft strategy provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA for the next two decades, including along two transport corridors serving North Kildare. The draft strategy is currently open for public consultation.

The long term strategy includes proposals for the expansion of Dart services to Celbridge/Hazelhatch and other measures along the Kildare corridors. Delivery of projects prioritised in the final GDA Strategy will be dependent on the availability of funding under the next capital plan post-2022, including from non-Exchequer sources. 

As regards short term priority measures for commuters in North Kildare, the Phoenix Park Tunnel project which will cost approx. €13 million will be completed in late 2016. The project will see commuters on the Kildare to Dublin Heuston line have the option of direct trains to Connolly, Tara St, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock Stations from late 2016.  The new rail services will provide an attractive alternative for private motorists who currently commute into the city from Kildare along the busy N7 and N4 road corridors.

Funding of €300,000 is also being provided this year for the construction of a public transport hub on Naas Main Street - Dublin Road corridor, to encompass redesigned bus stopping areas, new bus shelter, real time passenger information signs, seating, planting, cycle stands, transport/tourism information panels, paving and street furniture improvements.

These short term measures will complement the major new roads projects for  North Kildare, as recently announced under the new Capital Plan, namely  Naas-Newbridge bypass widening on the M7 and the construction of the Sallins bypass.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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17. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that the ratio of spending on roads infrastructure to public transport investment over the past ten years has been 3.1 to 1; that the ratio in 2014 has increased in 2015; his views that if this ratio is maintained or increased in the coming years, it will not deliver the investment badly needed in public transport, and will fail to accommodate projected population growth in urban centres, to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39242/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Government's recently published capital plan, 'Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021', the ratio between exchequer capital investment on roads infrastructure and public transport infrastructure between 2016 and 2022 (the transport element of the plan covering a 7-year period) is projected to be 1.6:1.

Decisions on the transport elements of the capital plan in the period to 2022 were framed by the conclusions reached in the Department's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to enhance the existing network through improving connections to seaports, to poorly served regions, to large-scale employment sites, and addressing critical safety issues.

Based on the findings in that report, maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget under the new Capital Plan - over €4 billion - is earmarked for such essential work. Similarly, a large portion of the capital funding for Public Transport - €2.6 billion - will be required for investment in essential 'steady state' maintenance and asset renewal across the national public transport network.

The capital budget for Roads also includes a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway.  Where new road investments are proposed they are directed at addressing specific issues on the road network, for example, alleviating bottlenecks such as the Dunkettle roundabout and the Naas Bypass.

On Public Transport, a further €1 billion on top of the 'steady state' requirement of €2.6 billion, will be invested under the new Capital Plan to address growing congestion resulting from economic recovery and population growth.