Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
55 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which targets set by his Department in the national development plan have been achieved to date or are achievable with cost and time projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32384/04]
View answer222 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he has examined the achievements to date in regard to the targets set by his Department in the context of the national development plan; if he proposes action to expedite delivery in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32546/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 122 together.
Good progress is being made in achieving the targets set for the transport sector under the national development plan. This was confirmed by the independent mid-term evaluation of the plan undertaken last year, which included an evaluation of both the roads and public transport programmes.
The first round of projects approved under the regional airports measures of the BMW and the south and east regional operational programmes was completed on time and within cost estimates. A further round of projects is being considered and I hope to be in a position to announce allocations shortly.
The bus network in the greater Dublin area has been significantly upgraded and expanded and the provision of quality bus corridors has helped improve bus journey times. Services have been expanded on the DART system and on the outer suburban rail network and further expansion is planned next year. The opening of both Luas lines has met a strong positive response from the travelling public, and further extensions to the network are being considered. New rail services have been introduced between Cork and Cobh and Limerick and Ennis and the delivery next year of 67 new rail carriages and an additional 36 rail cars will further enhance rail services outside the greater Dublin area. Bus services in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have also been significantly enhanced while expenditure to date under the rural transport initiative, at €9 million, is more than double the allocation under the national development plan.
The objectives of the national development plan regarding mainline rail included completion of the Railway Safety Programme 1999-2003 and reconstitution before the end of 2003 of the railway safety task force to prepare recommendations for a second five-year safety programme. Both objectives were met. The reconstituted railway safety task force has completed its work and its recommendations will shortly be submitted to Government.
Good progress has been made regarding the implementation of the national roads upgrade programme provided for in the national development plan. To date, 46 projects have been completed, resulting in a total of 327 km. of roadway, including 93 km. to motorway standard and 94 km. to dual carriageway standard. In addition, work is under way on 21 projects totalling 203 km., including 140 km. to motorway-dual carriageway standard. Another 12 projects, amounting to a total of 167 km. of roadway, are at tender stage.
The key NDP mid-term target to achieve 30% completion of the five major inter-urban routes by the end of 2003 was met, and work is under way on approximately another 12% of this work.
To labour the point, the Minister is incorrect in saying that the Dublin Bus fleet has been expanded. The reality is that Dublin Bus is behind target by 160 buses because it has only received 90 of the promised 250 buses. The last additional bus was received in 2000.
It is well known that almost every project is overrunning in terms of time and cost. Has the Minister any plans to ensure greater certainty? The point of a national development plan is to have certainty regarding timetables and budgets, yet the five-year envelope was changed to a six-year envelope and then to a ten-year envelope, and the nature of the projects under the development plan have been changed. Does the Minister not realise this is why no project is ever on time or within budget? As long as these circumstances obtain — I am not blaming the Minister specifically because I realise there is a long history of overruns — we will never have projects completed on time.
I hope we can maintain the current position, which is such that projects are being completed ahead of schedule. The Monasterevin bypass was completed 12 months ahead of schedule and the Cashel bypass was completed ten months ahead of schedule. I hope these will set the standard for all future projects.
That is always the case regarding building projects, but I am referring to projects that are being planned.
I know that. I will address the Dublin Bus issue in case I leave it go by default. Under the national development plan, Dublin Bus has purchased 460 new buses to date——
Replacement buses.
——of which 93 are additional.
Additional buses are needed to expand services. The population is expanding and we need expanded services.
I accept that.
That is what the Minister is saying.
If the population has not received a single additional bus, how on earth can we provide services?
Ninety-three of the buses are additional and 367——
The Minister will not allow competition to take place.
A short time ago, Deputy Olivia Mitchell stated in the House that competition was a solution, yet she is now saying all the resources should be given to Dublin Bus.
That is not what I am saying. I am saying the Minister should do one or the other.
The Deputy should allow the Minister to respond.
He should not dither endlessly.
I am not dithering.
The Deputy should allow the Minister to conclude.
It is certain that I will not dither. The point is that both the public sector and private sector comprise the solution to the public transport problem in Dublin. Both sectors accept this, as I know from meetings I have had with them. I want to realise the solution. When I know what each sector is prepared to commit to, I will be able to commit more buses to Dublin Bus.
The Deputy is incorrect to suggest that all the buses are replacements. There has been a great investment by the taxpayer resulting in the purchase of 460 new buses by Dublin Bus. I accept that 93 of these are additional. That represents a considerable upgrade to the fleet and increase therein. We will do more to meet the company's requirements.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
