Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 1

Written Answers - Public Transport.

Ivor Callely

Question:

60 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself with the progress to improve public transport in the Dublin area; the additional measures necessary to further improve public transport over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13334/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I am delighted to inform the Deputy that, under the national development plan, major progress has been made in improving the public transport system in the greater Dublin area.

Bus Átha Cliath took delivery of 125 new buses in 2000 to provide new and additional services. By the end of this year a further 156 new buses will have replaced older buses in the fleet. These new buses, all low floor and wheelchair accessible, have not only improved the quality and reliability of the bus service but have also increased the capacity on routes and increased the frequency during peak hours. The eight Quality Bus Corridors – QBCs – now in operation around the city have helped to reduce the bus journey times by up to 40% in some cases. The Nitelink has proved to be an outstanding success and is now available all year round.

Commuters in the greater Dublin area are also benefiting from the enhanced services provided by Bus Éireann on all the main radial routes into Dublin, with buses leaving every 15 minutes dur ing peak hours from towns like Navan and Drogheda.

Improvements on the rail side include the delivery of ten new DART carriages introduced by Iarnród Éireann late last year, 16 being currently introduced with a further 12 DART carriages on order for delivery later this year. There is also an option on a further 36 DART carriages. The new investment in the DART service will increase capacity on the DART by almost 50% by the end of 2002.

Some 20 diesel rail cars were delivered last year and a further 60 Arrow rail cars have been ordered under the NDP with delivery commencing in 2002. As well as the improvement in rolling stock, improvements in availability and frequencies of services are also under way.

Other major elements of the public transport programme to be implemented over the next five years are: the introduction of the Luas light rail system in 2003; the continued enhancement, extension, and development of the Dublin Bus network, including increases in capacity, improvements in the quality of service, accessibility to those who may be mobility impaired and extended timetabling; extension of the quality bus corridor network; development of the proposed new metro system.

Ivor Callely

Question:

61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the procedure in place if a member of the general public would like the Minister to reconsider subventing Bus Átha Cliath and CIE due to dissatisfaction of the service being provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13336/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

While operational matters within Bus Átha Cliath and CIE are the day-to-day responsibility of the board, I would, of course, receive representations from any member of the public regarding the levels of subvention provided to the companies mentioned.