Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 3

Written Answers. - Rail Services.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

124 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if an indicative time scale has been established for work to implement the recommendations in the report on integrated ticketing in the greater Dublin area which was approved by Cabinet in November 2000; and if she has set aside funding for the marketing of the integrated ticketing system. [5431/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I presented the report of the Integrated Ticketing Committee, Proposal for Integrated Ticketing in the Greater Dublin Area, to the Government on 21 November 2000. The report indicates that the recommended system could be introduced first on Luas, Bus Átha Cliath and suburban rail in 2003. The report also estimates the capital cost of introducing the recommended system on Bus Átha Cliath and suburban rail at £25 million and recommends that a marketing budget of £10 million should be made available, as part of the overall capital budget for the project, to encourage customers to switch from cash to smart card.

The Light Rail Project Office is currently drawing up an implementation plan for the project as part of the Luas development. That office is also in discussion with Bus Átha Cliath, which is also proceeding with its plans, and the Light Rail Project Office will be in touch with other operators and interested parties. The responsibilities of the Light Rail Project Office will be assigned to the proposed rail procurement agency which will be established under a Bill to be published shortly and the agency will co-ordinate the overall approach to integrated ticketing. The national development plan makes provision for expenditure of £50 million on integration, including integrated ticketing, over the period 2000-06 and the allocation of this funding will be determined on the basis of the implementation of the plan as it is developed.