Vol. 562 No. 4
371 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Transport his plans for public transport from Dublin city centre to Dublin Airport; the progress he has made to date in implementing these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6485/03]
As indicated in the Report of the Public Transport Partnership Forum of June 2002 on short-term measures for improved public transport access to Dublin Airport, public transport services, including taxis to or from Dublin Airport accounted for about 38.5% of all passenger journeys across the greater Dublin area in 2001. The bus market share to and from Dublin Airport is already high by international standards, having reached 21% in 2001.
In November 2002, my Department received the outline business case for phase 1 of the Dublin metro from the Railway Procurement Agency, which involves a metro line from Blanchardstown and Dublin Airport to the city centre and to Shanganagh. In addition, Iarnród Éireann has submitted a proposal for a DART link from Connolly Station to the airport. Following completion of the evaluation of these proposals in the coming weeks, I intend to bring my recommendations to the Government.
In advance of any metro or rail services, the quality bus network, serving the airport, is being developed further by the Dublin Transportation Office and the City Council Quality Bus Network Project Office.
