Written Answers. - Public Transport.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
70
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
the evaluation process for public transport requirements and the allocation of the required funding; the areas identified as requiring special focus; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9215/99]
The evaluation and assessment of public transport requirements is a continuous process, undertaken by the relevant Government Departments and transport agencies.
Transportation planning in the greater Dublin area is co-ordinated by the Dublin Transportation Office which is now preparing an action plan for investment in the period to 2006 and is also updating the existing DTI strategy to take account of anticipated development to 2016.
Last September, the DTO published a short-term action plan recommending a number of measures designed to provide 21,000 extra bus passenger trips and 11,300 suburban rail passenger trips in the peak period by end 2000. These recommendations have been approved for implementation and funding provided partly by the Exchequer, the reallocation of Luas EU aid and CIE's own resources.
Over the last two years, Córas Iompair Éireann undertook in-depth reviews of the investment needs of its bus, suburban rail and mainline rail services. A development programme prioritising a set of investment needs for each sector was devised. An independent examination of overall transport investment strategy, including the CIE public transport proposals, has just been completed by DKM Economic Consultants, external evaluator for the operational programme for transport, and is being examined by my Department.
In response to the rail safety review, completed in November 1998, the Government immediately appointed a high level task force to prepare prioritised recommendations to address the issues raised in the IRMS report. On 24 February I announced that the Government had approved a £430 million railway safety programme 1999-2003, prepared by Iarnród Éireann and endorsed by the task force. This programme provides the framework for railway safety investment over the next five years.
Earlier this month I secured Government approval to arrange for the carrying out of costing and feasibility work on a suburban rail development plan. The plan comprises two elements: a short-term programme based on making more intensive use of the existing rail corridors and a longer term programme based on certain conceptual suggestions for improving the suburban rail network contained in the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area.
The outcome of this work and other public transport investment proposals will be considered as part of the strategic transport needs for the country as a whole in the context of the preparation of the National Development Plan.
