Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which, in the context of a capital expenditure review, he plans to address strategic infrastructural deficits in the transport area with particular reference to road, bus and rail services, bridges and existing networks incapable of dealing with traffic volumes; his further plans to make major announcements in this area in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30130/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The existing capital plan provides almost €10bn for transport investment which is a significant portion of the overall capital envelope available to 2021 and underlines the importance of transport to Ireland's future growth and prosperity.  ​A mid-term review of the Capital Plan is currently underway by Government to determine capital investment priorities over the remaining 4 years of the existing plan in the context of a growing economy, where congestion has the potential to impede that growth.  I have made a detailed and compelling case for increased investment which will seek to address infrastructural deficits in the transport area and address congestion issues particularly in urban areas as the Deputy rightly points out.

Land Transport is the largest programme by far in my Department's Vote, representing 80% of my overall budget. The main components of the programme are: roads improvement and maintenance funding with an overall budget of €760m. The public transport investment programme has a budget of €355m. 

In 2017, this funding will provide for:

- the completion of the LUAS Cross City project.  I expect to see the first trams operating on the line before the end of the year.

- the funding of over 180 new buses comprising double and single deck buses and coaches, with 110 buses for the Dublin region fleet and over 70 buses for the Bus Éireann fleet. This will significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of the bus fleet serving both urban and rural areas; 

- the funding for essential planning and design work on some of the important but longer-term projects such as Metro North and the DART Expansion Programme. 

- the essential maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose;

- significant investment of €303m in our national roads to ensure they are maintained properly; 

- further contractual payments towards the Public Private Partnership roads programme; 

- significant investment of €324m in our regional and local roads network; and

- funding to advance key roads investments, including the widening the N7 around Naas and the linked work on the Sallins Bypass and access to the Millennium Business Park

– as well as preparatory work and planning on the projects in the Capital Plan, such as the Dunkettle upgrade, and the N4 from Collooney to Castlebaldwin