I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 448, inclusive, together.
Under the rail safety programmes 1999-2003 and 2004-08, approximately 644 km of track has been upgraded to continuous welded rail. Almost 15 km of track was provided on the Maynooth line to upgrade the line to double tracking and provide a commuter service to the city centre. This was completed in 2000.
The network resignalling project was carried out in conjunction with the track upgrading and has led to improved safety, comfort and speed on the lines. The resignalling of the entire network will be completed by the end of 2007.
Iarnród Éireann is currently taking delivery of 67 new intercity carriages for deployment on the Cork route. These will be introduced into the service on a phased basis throughout this year, culminating in a hourly service on the route by the end of 2006.
The company also has 150 new intercity railcars on order, and will begin to take delivery of these in 2007. These railcars will be deployed across the intercity rail network and will realise the complete rejuvenation of Iarnród Éireann's fleet.
Under the NDP and Transport 21, Dublin Bus has purchased 530 new buses to date, of which 113 are additional and 417 are replacement buses. Some 268 of these buses were funded, partially and/or fully, by the Exchequer and 262 of them were funded from Dublin Bus's own resources.
Under the NDP, Bus Éireann has purchased 421 new buses to date, of which 65 are additional and 356 are replacement buses. The Exchequer funded 172 of these buses and 249 of them were funded from Bus Éireann's own resources. These buses improve the quality and reliability of the fleet as well as providing for increased services.
The following schedule sets out the amount of yearly subvention from the Exchequer provided to Dublin Bus over the past ten years.
|
Year
|
Dublin Bus
|
|
€000
|
|
1996
|
4,635
|
|
1997
|
8,888
|
|
1998
|
11,294
|
|
1999
|
16,816*
|
|
2000
|
41,189
|
|
2001
|
54,316
|
|
2002
|
56,063
|
|
2003
|
53,867
|
|
2004
|
61,810
|
|
2005
|
64,900
|
* This figure includes €5.1million for Dublin Bus for operating costs for 150 new buses (supplementary estimate Dec 1999).
