David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional bus and rail routes planned and the increased spend in public transport for Waterford city and county envisaged to meet climate change targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29229/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Waterford City and County Council will this year begin work on a new Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.

Development of the Strategy will be similar to the work already done in Galway and underway in Cork and will allow for consideration of the area's transport needs over a 20 year period.

I very much welcome the development of this new Strategy which will allow us build upon the improvements already made to the city's public transport network, such as the launch earlier this year of a much improved bus network which has resulted in impressive increases in bus usage in the city. 

Finalisation of the Strategy will provide the strategic backdrop to the increased levels of investment that are now being made available to support the further development of both active travel and public transport infrastructure. I look forward to the Deputy engaging with the consultation process which will take place as the new Strategy is being developed.