The Deputy was the epitomy of a good Minister because he obeyed the Department of Finance.
Initial indications are that a system based on electronic smart card technology could be introduced on a phased basis in Dublin and detailed evaluation of this option is currently being undertaken. I disagree with the claim that the introduction of integrated ticketing could have significant capital cost and revenue implications. My Department was told by CIE that integrated ticketing would have revenue implications. I cannot see how it could. I believe it would have terrific implications for the consumer who would have access to a decent integrated system.
The public transport components of the other major urban areas of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will also be considered in the preparation of the National Development Plan. I asked CIE to submit investment reviews of those cities. The primary emphasis of the reviews was on improvements to the bus service through investment in fleet and the introduction of bus priority measures. The Cork review also referred to the development of the suburban rail network, which I mentioned earlier.
As I pointed out in the House recently, the Government has committed £70 million in the Estimates this year alone to making the renaissance of public transport a reality. We are working to ensure that the public transport system not only has the physical capacity to meet transport demand but is capable of meeting the wider needs of its customers. It must be frequent and reliable, giving good value for money and be safe and customer focused.
While a great deal was achieved in recent years, much more remains to be done. Identifying the capacity requirements and securing the funding necessary is only part of what has to be undertaken. Substantial amounts of money need to be invested and we need to ensure we are getting benefit from those investments.
CIE and the DTO are in the process of finalising their action plans for the years to 2006. Their work, which I hope to receive in a fortnight, is expected to confirm our belief that there is an enormous challenge facing transport planners and operators in meeting the anticipated growth.
The Government can be relied on to provide a properly planned and co-ordinated response to the transport challenges in our major urban areas. We will set out a clear strategy to address those problems in the forthcoming National Development Plan, when we have received and considered the detailed proposals of the DTO.
Of all of the agencies under my remit and business in my Department, public transport is the issue that is the most important for the future. This issue is not only of consideration to Dublin people, even though four of the Members present come from Dublin and the bulk of people who need a daily public transport system come from the Dublin region.
The opening up of defunct railway stations in the towns I mentioned would facilitate much more commuter traffic to and from Dublin. Deputy McGrath talked about Mullingar. A great number of commuters travel from Athlone to Dublin every morning and return to Athlone in the evening. It is a long journey, particularly for young women, many of whom have young families. They find it tough commuting to work in Dublin, but that is a debate for another day.
Towns throughout the country that were bypassed can now be given new life. Towns, like Monasterevin, where only a shell of the railway station remains, are on commuter lines. In the plans under preparation, why not give the people of Monasterevin, Athy, Lucan north and south and other towns on rail lines, which are not used because there is no halting facility, the chance to avail of the rail service that passes through their towns?
We spoke earlier about who closed various lines down through the years. We all fell in love with trains in the last century, then we all fell out of love with them and in love with cars. Every family wanted a car and then two cars. Cars became a status symbol. Trains were under utilised and in many cases the tracks were left to rot. There is only continuous welded track on the Dublin-Cork, Dublin-Belfast and Dublin-Galway lines. We have embarked on a nationwide job to extend continuous welded track thoughout the country. A total of £600 million is to be spent on this work, £88 million is to be spent on level crossings, £40 million on bridges and fences and £20 million on signalling. That money will be spent first on developing the public transport infrastructure and then on carriages, integrated ticketing, suburban rail lines and the provision of extra buses. As Deputy Yates said, this represents a major investment. A major investment in public infrastructure must be undertaken by the Government. We have made a start by allocating £70 million to it this year and more will have to be spent by future Governments.
I dealt with Dublin Bus. Train travel is environmentally friendly and train travel here is very safe compared to other European countries. It is a relaxing way to travel.
