Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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770. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of his Department’s work with local authorities and transport providers on the bus rapid transport scheme in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10186/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).

The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016 - 2035 includes proposals for two specific BRT schemes, Blanchardstown to UCD and Clongriffin to Tallaght. In addition, the Strategy indicates that the public transport needs on the Swords/Airport to City Centre corridor may require a higher level of public transport capacity than the existing provision, both in advance of the delivery of new Metro North which is anticipated to be completed in 2026/27 and also to serve areas south of the M50 subsequent to the implementation of new Metro North. The NTA has indicated that this additional capacity may take the form of a BRT service, a BRT-type service or a conventional QBC upgrade. Any final arrangement would be designed to be complementary to the new Metro North scheme.

The NTA is currently in the process of preparing an Implementation Plan for the delivery of the strategy for the period 2017-2022. Key to implementation over this period is the capital funding that will be available for investment in public transport infrastructure over the period.

Funding is being made available for initial planning and design work for the Blanchardstown to UCD and Clongriffin to Tallaght BRT schemes under the Government's Capital Plan 'Building on Recovery Infrastructure & Capital Investment 2016 - 2021'. I understand from the NTA that a contract has been signed with a design team to carry out a route options analysis study to identify the preferred route option for the Clongriffin to Tallaght Scheme. The NTA also issued tender documents to progress the design and planning of the Blanchardstown to UCD Scheme.

As the Deputy will be aware, a mid-term review of the Capital Plan has been initiated and I will be making the case for increased funding for public transport in that context to cater for 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 travel.