Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

319. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation under the capital plan for the acquisition of replacement buses; the amount that has been spent; the number of buses acquired; the estimated expenditure on replacement buses over the life of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17365/17]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

320. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan for upgrading quality bus corridors; the amount that has been spent to date; the number of bus corridors upgraded; the estimated capital expenditure to be spent over the remaining life of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17366/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.

Over €800 million is allocated under the Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 for bus programmes. This includes fleet replacement and enlargement programmes, bus network infrastructure development and bus rapid transit (BRT) programmes.  Funding has been made available under the Capital Plan for initial planning and design work for two specific BRT schemes, Blanchardstown to UCD and Clongriffin to Tallaght.  Funding is also provided under the Capital Plan for sustainable transport measures, which includes the development or upgrading of quality bus corridors (QBCs), in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the provision of public and sustainable transport infrastructure in the GDA and in the regional cities.  The NTA is also responsible for the renewal of the bus fleet in respect of Public Service Obligation (PSO) services operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. The NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035 provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the region over the next two decades. 

My Department provides funding to the NTA for a rolling programme of bus replacement and refurbishment of the PSO fleet.  Funding was provided in Budget 2017 to facilitate the purchase of 110 new buses for the PSO bus fleet for the Dublin region and 70 for the Bus Éireann PSO fleet.  The extent to which these buses will be used to replace older vehicles or to expand the current PSO fleet will be determined by the NTA taking account of demand.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this area, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for more detailed information on recent developments/upgrading of QBCs in the GDA and the regional cities.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

321. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan for the LUAS cross city project; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17367/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Funding of almost €200 million has been provided under the Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 to allow for completion of the Luas Cross City project.  Funding for the development of the project was also provided under the previous Capital Plan. The total budget for the project is €368 million and the project is on target to be delivered within budget and on schedule with operations due to commence in final Quarter of this year.