Vol. 521 No. 4
32 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has fully analysed public transport needs with particular reference to ensuring adequate strategically targeted capital investment with a view to extending the availability of public transport services to a wider community and thereby contributing to the alleviation of road traffic congestion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17245/00]
The process leading to the finalisation of the public transport elements of the national development plan entailed a detailed analysis of public transport investment needs by my Department in consultation with the Dublin Transportation Office and CIE and its operating subsidiaries. The Dublin Transportation Office published its Transportation Blueprint 2000 to 2006, while CIE prepared a series of investment reviews covering mainline rail, suburban rail, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and rail freight.
The result was seen in the national plan which provided for an unprecedented level of investment in public transport in the period 2000 to 2006.
This amounts to more than £2.2 billion and can be summarised as follows:
Greater Dublin Area – Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow £1.6 billion; mainline rail £500 million; other regional public transport £150 million.
However, the evaluation of transport requirements is an ongoing process. There are currently a number of studies under way which focus principally on longer-term requirements.
The DTO is currently working on finalising an updated transportation strategy for the period 2000-2016. This work takes account of the findings of the bus network review and the suburban strategic rail study, both of which were commissioned by CIE.
When the Government has considered the DTO recommendations, it will then be in a position to decide on an updated longer-term transportation strategy for the greater Dublin area.
