Denis Naughten
Ceist:1075 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No 619 of 10 June 2003, the route and operator involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20980/03]
Written Answers. - Public Transport.
A licence was issued by my Department on the 2 September 2003 in response to the application referred to by the Deputy. The licence was issued to Mr. Thomas McWeeney, Derrywillow, Aughamore, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim for a passenger road service between Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon. The licensed route traverses a very small corner of County Roscommon, between Drumsna and Jamestown.
My Department has since received another application for a passenger road licence in respect of some of the areas mentioned in the Deputy's initial Question No. 619 of 10 June 2003. In accordance with standard procedures for processing licence applications, details of this application remain confidential until a decision is made.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:1076 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 7 May 2003, if he will outline his current plans in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20981/03]
It is widely accepted that the Road Transport Act 1932 provides an inadequate basis for regulating bus services and its replacement with a modern regulatory framework was signalled in the programme for Government. However reform of the Road Transport Act 1932 needs to be considered in the context of the overall regulatory reform required in public transport.
In this regard at a meeting of the public transport partnership forum on 7 November 2002 I set out my proposals for regulatory and structural reform of public transport provision in Ireland.
During recent months my Department and I have engaged in extensive consultation with the social partners in relation to my proposals. During August my Department and the CIE unions met to consider a process of re-engagement in discussions on public transport. They agreed to a phased series of discussions which commenced on 10 September and are currently still under way. Parallel consultations are also taking place with Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and, through the public transport partnership forum, with the other social partners.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:1077 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he will publish details of the capital projects initiated by his Department during 2003 and planned for the following five years; and the current estimate of the final cost in each case. [20982/03]
On public transport, the Department is providing some €5 million for the CIE companies in respect of public transport accessibility projects to be carried out in 2003. Capital expenditure under this heading for the next five years has not yet been decided upon.
On Bus Átha Cliath, some 90 new buses have been ordered for delivery in 2003. Of these, 58 are replacement buses being funded from BAC's own resources. Some 32 are additional, of which 20 are being funded by the Exchequer. A total of €5.7 million has been allocated to Bus Átha Cliath in respect of these projects.
Construction of Harristown garage to accommodate 240 buses has commenced in 2003. The total cost of the Harristown garage will be €46 million.
On Bus Éireann, some 68 new buses will be delivered in 2003. Of these, 30 are being funded by BE's own resources for expressway services. Some 38 replacement buses will be Exchequer funded for regional stage carriage and commuter services. Modification of garage facilities associated with the introduction of low floor buses under the NDP will also take place. A total of €10 million has been allocated to Bus Éireann in respect of these projects for 2003.
On Iarnród Éireann, Irish Rail has placed an order for 67 new mainline railway carriages at a cost of €117 million for delivery in late 2005. Work has commenced on phase 1 of the DART upgrade project to increase capacity by 50%. This project is due for completion in 2005 and includes the purchase of a further 40 DART units, upgrading the overhead power supply and lengthening platforms to allow eight-car operations with DART trains. This is expected to cost €53 million in total.
Construction work has commenced on the Kildare line to increase capacity by 130% by providing longer platforms and trains and a turn-back facility at Newbridge. The expected total cost of this project is €5.4 million.
Irish Rail is also investigating the purchase of up to 60 regional diesel railcars for use on intercity services. No costings have been completed on this project.
Projects planned for the remainder of the national development plan will be dependent on funding levels and the prevailing budgetary and economic situation over the coming years. My Department and Irish Rail are in discussion on prioritising investments to 2008. It is hoped to conclude these negotiations shortly.
Investment in the safety critical infrastructure and safety management systems of Iarnród Éireann is continuing in 2003 under the railway safety programme 1999-2003. Total investment of €136 million is expected in 2003.
The level of railway safety investment over the next five years and the projects selected will be determined by Government following its consideration of the recommendations of the railway safety task force which I expect to receive before the end of this year.
The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is at present progressing work on the extension of Luas to Cherrywood and to the Docklands. This includes public consultations, design and route planning and preparation of a business plan. Subject to a satisfactory business plan being developed, it is anticipated that the RPA will be in a position to make an application to me for a railway order for one or more of these extensions during 2003. Final cost estimates will not be known until a business plan is submitted.
The outline business case for phase 1 of the metro has been received in my Department and is being carefully considered. A number of additional aspects of the proposals are being assessed as part of the evaluation of the outline business case. As a PPP, it is difficult to estimate the final costs until the project is advertised and bids received. The cost to the State could well take the form of availability payments over a set number of years, beginning when services commence.
Under the Roads Act 1993, the NRA has overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads. It is a matter for the NRA, within the strategic framework set out in the NDP, to manage, in co-operation with local authorities, the planning, design and implementation of individual road development projects.
In relation to projects due to start in 2003, I am informed by the NRA construction has commenced this year on the M7, Monasterevin bypass; N2, Carrickmacross bypass; N4, Kilcock-Kinnegad bypass, PPP; N4, Hughestown-Meera; N8, Cashel bypass; N26, Ballina-Bohola phase 1, Carrowntreila; and that tendering is under way on the M1, Dundalk western bypass, PPP; N2, Ashbourne bypass; N4, Sligo, inner relief road; N4, McNeads Bridge-Kinnegad; N7, Naas Road widening; N8, Fermoy bypass, PPP; N15, Ballyshannon-Bundoran bypass; N18, Ennis bypass; N22, Ballycarthy-Tralee; N25, Waterford city bypass, PPP; N25, Kinsale Road interchange.
The public sector cost of the PPP projects, M1 Dundalk western bypass, N8 Fermoy bypass and N25 Waterford city bypass, depends on the outcome of negotiations with preferred bidders and in particular, the level of funding provided by the successful bidder in each case. The estimated cost of the other projects – including the public sector contribution to the Kilcock-Kinnegad PPP project – is in excess of €1 billion.
The number of schemes proceeding to construction in 2004 and subsequent years will depend on the overall rate of progress of the roads programme and the overall funding available.