Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the budget allocation for his Department; if it is sufficient to expand the public transport system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33103/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In light of the many competing priorities within Government and current financial constraints I was pleased that my Department secured additional funding in Budget 2017.  I am particularly pleased that funding for the land transport programme will increase next year by €90m to €1.46 billion with a significant portion of this increase for capital and current spending on public transport.

There are a significant number of projects underway and planned to increase capacity on our public transport network.  In the near future projects such as the reopening of the Phoenix Park Tunnel, Luas Cross City and 10 minute DART will help manage the increasing demand on the light rail and heavy rail networks in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).  The Luas Cross City project will commence operation before the end of 2017 and will provide for an estimated 10 million additional journeys per annum on the Luas network. Other projects that are being progressed that will improve capacity on the rail network in Dublin and nationally include the City Centre Re-signalling Programme and the construction of a new Central Traffic Control Centre for the commuter and intercity rail network.    

Funding is also being provided under the Government's Capital Plan for replacement and expansion of the PSO fleet in the Dublin region and in Bus Éireann, and for the development or upgrading of QBCs in both the GDA and in the regional cities.  As the Deputy will be aware, a mid-term review of the Capital Plan is planned to be carried out next year and I will be making the case for increased funding for public transport in that context to cope with increasing demand for public transport as the economy continues to improve and to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto public transport and more sustainable forms of transport.