Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the metro north project; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2522/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the DART underground project; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2523/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the DART expansion programme; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2524/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Dublin city centre resignalling programme; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2525/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2526/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the central traffic control centre for commuter and intercity rail; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2527/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation both from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to safety and efficiency maintenance of the rail network; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the capital plan to 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. [2530/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to 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. [2531/18]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the smarter travel policy; the amount that has been spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; the estimated capital cost to finish the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2558/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 to 279, inclusive, 281, 282 and 309 together.

The Government’s budgetary framework for capital investment, 'Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021' published in September 2015, provided funding to progress a number of key public transport projects included in the National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035'. Following the recent mid-term review of the Capital Plan, the allocations announced in Budget 2018 allow for an enhanced four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion for public transport over the period 2018-2021. This funding will progress key capital programmes that will help address congestion and emerging capacity constraints on our public transport system across our cities and will include BusConnects GDA, Metro North and Luas, Heavy Rail and DART Expansion, Maintenance of the existing Rail Network, Cycling & Walking, Sustainable Urban Transport as well as allocations for Carbon Reduction measures, accessibility retro-fit and ticketing system upgrades.

In response to the specific questions raised by the Deputy I wish to advise the following:

The Phoenix Park Tunnel Link project is now complete and opened for passenger services in November 2016. I am advised that the total capital cost of the project was €13.5 million.

In relation to the Smarter Travel Policy 2009-2020, allocations were made to fund an overall SmarterTravel & Sustainable Transport Measures programme in the GDA and Regional Cities. This has funded the Regional Cities Programme, the Sustainable Transport Measures Grant (STMG) Programme, and a range of Smarter Travelinitiatives (including the Smarter Travel Areas Programme, Active Travel Towns, National Cycle Network, development of greenways and other measures to support sustainable transport and travel such as mobility management initiatives and Bike Week). €46 million and €42 million were drawndown in 2016 and 2017. An allocation of €251 million has been earmarked to support Sustainable Urban Transport and specific urban Cycling and Walking investment over the period 2018-2021.

In relation to safety and efficiency maintenance of the rail network, Iarnród Éireann has responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the heavy rail network. In accordance with the requirements of EU law, my Department provides annual capital funding to Iarnród Éireann for the maintenance and renewal of the network under the Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC). €134 million and €158.77 million was allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2016, 2017, with €160m allocated for 2018.

In relation to Metro North, funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government’s present Capital Plan 2016-2021 for planning, design and construction of new Metro North with construction work commencing in 2021 and passenger services starting in 2027. The estimated cost of completing the new Metro North project is €2.4 billion. The NTA, in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station location will be established. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be completed shortly, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken on the Emerging Preferred Route (EPR). It is also expected that Preliminary Design will commence early this year.

With regard to the Deputy's questions on bus fleet and bus corridors the recently announced 4 Year Capital Plan provides for investment of over €770 million to progress the BusConnects programme. It was launched last summer by the NTA and work is ongoing on the redesign of the bus services network and also on infrastructure proposals for Core Bus Corridors which will be an integral part of the programme. When this work is completed the proposals will be launched for public consultation in the first half of this year. The results of the public consultation will inform the final decisions to be made on the network redesign, Core Bus Corridors and park and ride facilities. In particular, BusConnects will help address growing congestion in the Dublin region in the short to medium term. In addition to providing the obvious considerable improvement in bus infrastructure, the investment will also provide much improved cycling and walking facilities along the key corridors.

In relation to the remaining questions raised by the Deputy, funding of €230 million over the period 2018-2021 is allocated for mainline rail projects (including City Centre Resignalling and the National Train Control Centre) and DART capacity enhancement that will allow acceleration of the initial stages of the overall DART Expansion Programme, focussing particularly at this stage on providing additional fleet to enhance capacity, and extending the electrified DART system. Specifically, it will allow substantial progress on electrification of the Northern rail line as far as Balbriggan - now expected to be delivered in 2022 - and commencing work on the Maynooth line. The remaining elements of the DART Expansion programme are being considered in the context of the 10 year investment plan that is expected to be published in the near future.

Noting the responsibilities of the NTA and Iarnród Éireann, I have forwarded the Deputy’s questions on DART Expansion, City Centre Re-signalling and the National Train Control Centre to both organisations for further information in relation to expenditure on the specific projects referred to by the Deputy. I have also forwarded the Deputy's questions on expenditure to date on the Metro North project and expenditure on buses to the NTA for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.