My speech is not circulated before I make it. Do the Deputies want to put me at a total disadvantage? Openness, transparency and accountability are all very well, but one can take it too far.
I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for allowing me the opportunity to present the Revised Estimates. The gross expenditure provision for my Department in 2010 is €2.758 billion, that is €2.081 billion for capital projects and €677 million for current spending. The provision is €338 million less than last year's outturn which reflects the very difficult economic circumstances in which this year's Estimates were framed.
As part of the very necessary reductions agreed by the Government, we implemented some of the recommendations in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, an bord snip nua as it was called. We had a €21 million reduction in current expenditure and a €317 million reduction in the capital provision.
My Department will spend €2.081 billion on the following projects: €1.4 billion on national, regional and local roads improvements; €23 million on smarter travel; €615 million on the public transport investment programme; €13 million on maritime transport and safety; €10 million on cross-Border initiatives; and €3 million on regional airports.
The €615 million provided this year for investment in public transport will continue the transformation of our public transport system and build on the achievements of recent years. We established the National Transport Authority, NTA, on 1 December 2009. There is now a new structure to subhead C2 from 2010 onwards. Spending will be in the following three areas. First, public transport projects are managed by my Department and include funding for integrated ticketing, accessibility projects, traffic management outside the greater Dublin area and technical assistance for Transport 21. The provision this year is €59.188 million.
The second area is public transport safety and development and we have allocated €206 million to cover the railway safety programme and bus and rail projects outside the greater Dublin area, such as the western rail corridor and new rolling stock for intercity rail services.
The third area is public transport infrastructure. That provides €349.8 million in capital funding for the National Transport Authority and includes funding for projects in the GDA such as all the Luas and metro projects, bus and rail projects and for traffic management measures. As member will know this is the first year that funding for public transport in the greater Dublin area is being distributed through the NTA which has responsibility for delivering an integrated public transport system in Dublin. Obviously the NTA must work closely with the RPA and the CIE companies who will deliver key projects on their behalf. I note the good co-operation between all these organisations.
Since I addressed the committee on the 2009 Estimates, the Luas extension from Connolly Station to docklands was completed on 8 December 2009. The Kildare rail project was completed in December 2009. Phase 1 of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Athenry was officially opened on 29 March 2010. Significant funds have and will continue to be spent on railway safety works, on accessibility projects, on the Dublin city centre resignalling project and on bus priority measures in Dublin and the regional cities, and we have continued work on a large number of other projects at various stages of progress. During the coming year, the Luas extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood will open as will the Clonsilla-Dunboyne railway line. Next year the Citywest Luas extension is scheduled to be completed with services operating by May 2011.
In relation to the two priority public transport projects, metro north and DART underground, which are also funded through the NTA, I can also report substantial progress has been made. The oral hearing before An Bord Pleanála on the railway order application for metro north concluded in March this year. Following my meeting with the European Investment Bank it approved up to €500 million for this project. In relation to the DART underground, planning is progressing and the latest advice from Irish Rail is that it anticipates it will lodge a railway order application with An Bord Pleanála on 30 June.
Investment in bus priority will continue with the NTA providing funds for projects in Dublin and my Department funding projects in the regional cities. We are providing €14 million for the accessibility programme which will fund improved accessibility of railway stations, continue the programme to make bus stops in Dublin more accessible and also fund the rollout of accessible coach services on the Navan-Dublin, airport-DCU and the Cork-Waterford bus routes. The integrated ticketing system is progressing and there is a provision of €19.5 million this year. The integrated ticketing scheme is at an advanced stage and is undergoing rigorous testing to ensure it operates fully and effectively and it remains on target to be rolled-out on a progressive basis this year. That will mean real change for passengers.
The 2010 capital allocation for national roads is €1.114 billion. While this is a reduction on the 2009 figure it will allow the NRA to maintain the impetus necessary to complete the major interurban routes, the M50 upgrade, three service areas and the M3 this year.
I am delighted to say that, as we meet, three of the five major interurban routes and the M3, from Clonee to beyond Kells, are completed. The remaining projects, the M7 to Limerick, the M9 to Waterford, the M50 upgrade project and the three service areas are on target to be completed before the end of this year.
The priority for the national roads investment programme, after 2010, will be the Atlantic road corridor. Procurement is under way on three PPP projects N17-N18, Gort-Tuam, N11 and the Enniscorthy-New Ross bypasses. Procurement will also start shortly for the M20 Cork-Limerick southern section. There are other, smaller schemes ongoing. The only other item concerning national roads is that we are preparing a review of the investment needs of national roads in accordance with the renewed programme for Government. That should be completed by the end of the year. The capital investment in regional roads is €300 million. There are major difficulties facing local authorities in the year ahead, particularly in the aftermath of the severe weather in late 2009 and early 2010. Local authorities indicated to my Department that the total cost of reinstatement of the roads damaged as a result would be approximately €180 million. We made this money available to local authorities and granted them discretion. We gave them more than that amount to include the extra de-icing and salting they had to do. The figure was €240 million. Many local authorities are reporting good progress in this respect and some will require the same flexibility during the course of the next year.
The major aviation policy objective is to promote regular, safe, cost-effective and competitive air services. The three State airports are a key aspect of the implementation of this policy objective. Regional airports have also made a contribution to access to transport at local and regional levels. Members are well aware of the difficulties faced by airports and the aviation sector generally. A provision of €3 million was made in 2010 to fund urgently required work at Knock and Donegal airports and a further €1.2 million will be provided in respect of expenditure at City of Derry Airport. We are conducting a value for money review of regional airports. This is due to be completed shortly and it will inform our views.
With regard to State airports, the primary objective was to address the capacity shortcomings at the three airports. The major capital investment at Cork Airport in recent years resulted in the provision of an entirely new airport terminal to cater for passenger growth. The DAA made significant investments in Shannon Airport in 2009 for the construction of a preclearance facility, which is working well. With the opening of terminal 2 later this year, the DAA will have resolved the capacity shortcomings at Dublin Airport. In addition to the new terminal, there is an extension to terminal 1, the construction of two new piers, D and E. At the end of this year Dublin Airport passenger handling capability will have caught up in terms of addressing the capacity situation that was severely out of balance with passenger needs. There has been a major fall-off in passenger numbers but the facilities exist for greatly increased numbers.
The maritime transport capital Estimate amounts to €4.1 million and provides for payment in respect of remedial work carried out at regional harbours. The Department has been funding essential works for the past five years. The resources available for expenditure on regional harbours have been concentrated on essential remedial works pending the transfer of the harbours to local control.
The smarter travel document was published in February. The total cost of smarter travel is estimated to be €4.5 billion, on top of the Transport 21 investment. Smarter travel activities to date include the establishment of the national sustainable travel office, guidelines for sustainable residential development in urban areas and public consultation on the draft new cycle design manual. Transformation of bus services, supported by improved park-and-ride facilities, has commenced and guidance was issued on provision for cyclists in the design of the quality bus network. A tax saver scheme for cyclists was introduced and Ireland's first national cycle policy framework was published. A carbon tax was introduced in the December 2009 budget and work commenced on the drafting of a national walking policy, following the establishment——