In relation to public transport, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the expenditure on a constituency-by-constituency basis. Apart from meeting general transport objectives, a well functioning nationwide public transport infrastructure is vital for making optimal use of road infrastructure, minimising the impact on the environment of transport, promoting balanced regional development and making transport as widely accessible as possible. Most of the projects being undertaken, therefore, will provide benefits across constituency or county borders.
During 2001, Dublin Bus ordered and received delivery of 56 replacement buses and Bus Éireann ordered and received delivery of 70 buses. Monasterevin Station was completed in 2001 at a cost of 2.54 million as was Tralee Bus Station. Listing of projects completed or commenced in 2001 does not give a full picture of the considerable investment being made by this Government under the national development plan as a number of the projects commenced in 2000 will take a number of years to complete. The plan, designed to span the years 2000 to 2006, will see an investment of 2.8 billion in public transport projects throughout the State.
For the Deputy's benefit the major projects under way since 2000 include the following: delivery of 38 DART railcars which will serve to increase DART capacity by approximately 50%; commencement of work on the redevelopment of Heuston Station to accommodate additional train paths by reorganising rail approaches to the station and the provision of additional platforms – this project is to take approximately 18 months and will allow the more efficient use of facilities at the station and allow it to accommodate more trains; design work on the Kildare corridor; design and costing work on the DASH, Dublin Area Suburban Enhancement; 80 diesel railcars ordered for delivery in 2002/3, 60 from NDP funds and 20 from Iarnród Éireann's own resources; construction of a new railcar depot in Drogheda to commence shortly; tenders for the supply of up to 66 new mainline rail carriages being examined by Iarnród Éireann with a decision shortly; and 281 new buses have been delivered to Bus Átha Cliath to date under the NDP to provide new and additional bus services in the Dublin area – these buses have increased capacity on routes and increased frequency of services in peak hours.