Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:128 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the money allocated and spent to date in 2001 by her Department in each county excluding the BMW region under the national development plan. [25395/01]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006 provides for an investment of £2 billion – 2.5 billion – to enhance public transport in the south and east region.
To the end of June, 2001, almost £386.77 million – 491.10 million – has been spent on public transport projects in the south and east region. It is not possible at present to provide a breakdown of the expenditure to date on a county by county basis.
The main objectives of the investment is to upgrade the mainline rail infrastructure, rolling stock and facilities, upgrade the suburban rail and DART network, develop the light rail network, develop bus services in Dublin, in the major provincial cities and towns and to develop and improve rural bus services. These combined objectives will be achieved through: mainline rail investment in safety and renewal; enhanced suburban rail services through increased capacity on the DART and outer suburban rail services; increased frequency of suburban rail services; the introduction of the Luas services in 2003; regional bus improvements – provincial cities, rural and main routes from and to Dublin; Dublin city bus improvements; ongoing fleet replacement and re-equipment by Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath; and accessibility improvements to existing public transport infrastructure and facilities.
The NDP monitoring committee established by my Department which includes representatives from the CIE group and the Department of Finance, is responsible for overseeing progress, both financial and physical, of the public transport projects.
Under the airports measure of the national development plan, a sum of £3 million – 3.8 million – at 1999 prices, has been allocated to assist with necessary infrastructural upgrades and improvements at the two regional airports in the south and east region at Farranfore, Kerry, and Waterford.
There has been no expenditure to date of this amount. However, my Department is currently examining and assessing the projects which have been submitted for support under the NDP by the two regional airport authorities concerned.
Aside from the funds provided for under the NDP, my Department also provides support for marketing activities and for safety and security measures at the regional airports. Over the two year period, 2000-2001, a total sum of £1.155 million – 1.467 million – has been allocated and expended under the scheme to the two airports in the south and east region as follows: Kerry airport £800,000 – 1.016 million, and Waterford airport £355,000 – 0.451 million. This allocation has been spent. In addition, my Department supports the operation of public service obligation air services on the Kerry-Dublin route.
Under the sustainable energy priority within the framework of the national development plan £113.7 million – 144.4 million – is earmarked for investment in the south and east region. My Department has overall responsibility for the administration of this funding and the Irish Energy Centre which operates under the aegis of my Department, is the main conduit for implementing this priority. While expenditure to date in 2001 of £2.35 million – 2.99 million – has been incurred in the south and east region this would also have an impact in the BMW region.
Under the e-commerce and communications measure of the NDP, there has been an allocation of £24.4 million – 31 million – by my Department. To date, there is no expenditure. Projects are cross-county undertakings. The breakdown by county will only become apparent when expenditure is reported.