Dan Boyle
Question:112 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Transport if resources will be made available in 2003 for new public transport and rail developments in the Cork region. [23201/02]
Written Answers. - Public Transport.
Significant investment has been made to date in public transport in the Cork area and further investment is planned in the future. Some 54 new buses have been purchased for the Cork bus fleet under the national development plan. This has resulted in the expansion of existing routes and the introduction of new routes. Delivery of a further ten new buses is expected over the coming weeks. Some 80% of the city and suburban fleet is now low-floor fully accessible to ease access for mobility impaired persons. The average age of the fleet has been reduced from 11 years in the 1990s to four years.
A significant upgrade of the trackwork and stations is taking place on the Cork to Cobh route. Four new diesel railcars to upgrade the capacity on the Cork to Cobh line will be introduced on this line in 2003. In addition, Irish Rail is about to place an order for 67 new mainline rail carriages for delivery in 2005. A number of these carriages are earmarked for use on the Dublin to Cork route.
I also intend to make funding available in 2003 for the introduction of quality bus corridors –"green routes"– in Cork, the first such bus priority initiative to be funded by my Department outside Dublin.
Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 60.
Question No. 114 answered with Question No. 77.