Written answers

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Transport Policy

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which his Department has identified the most seriously over-trafficked road and rail routes such as the M50 or other arterial routes to and from cities or large towns and strategic rail routes in similar situations; if he will include improvements in respect of such routes in the capital programme in the near future, given the urgent requirement for the continuation of the provision of modern, efficient and effective road and rail transportation and taking into account demographic changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/16]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of our land transport network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the capital budget is earmarked for such essential work.

This is the first year of the Capital Plan and my Department's capital envelope this year is €1.075 billion. By 2021, our capital envelope under the Capital Plan will have increased to €2 billion.

The Road Investment Programme has a capital budget this year of over €700 million allocated to the national, regional and local roads programme, which includes a number of existing Public Private Partnership schemes, all of which are progressing well. It is envisaged that under the Capital Plan, the maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be a key priority with the bulk of the roads capital budget, over €4 billion over the lifetime of the Plan, earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already under way.

The Public Transport Investment Programme has a capital budget this year of €347 million. Again, most of this is tied to maintenance of the rail network and delivering existing commitments, including LUAS Cross City, which is progressing on time and within budget. The Plan will facilitate a major upgrade to the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area so that it has the capacity to meet growing demand which would otherwise be detrimental to competitiveness, economic growth and quality of life.  Construction of a metro link between the city centre, Dublin Airport and Swords will commence around 2021 so as to be operational around 2026/27.  The upgrade will also include further progress in the DART expansion programme including, in particular, the extension of the Dart to Balbriggan.  The Underground element of this will be redesigned to achieve a more affordable solution.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government proposes to undertake a Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which will take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.

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