Cullen announces acceleration of funding to see earlier start on Atlantic Road Corridor

Date: 25 January 2007

During a visit to Galway today (Thursday 25 January 2007), Transport Minister, Martin Cullen T.D. announced that in recognition of the need to move quickly ahead with progressing work on the Atlantic Road Corridor (the route linking the gateways of Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford) - the Government has provided for an acceleration of the funding within Transport 21, for construction to commence on the N18 Ennis to Galway route. Work on this section of the corridor is to begin in early 2008 - three years ahead of when originally planned. The consequence of this is that the overall Atlantic Road Corridor will be completed significantly ahead of the original schedule.

The Minister also announced that the acceleration of funding on the Atlantic Road Corridor will result in the Galway City Outer Bypass being constructed earlier than planned and in this year’s allocations by the National Roads Authority, €1.5 million has been allocated this year to advance the planning of this important project.

Speaking today in Galway about the new National Development Plan 2007 - 2013, the Minister said: “The Government is providing significant funding, under this NDP, to address the issue of balanced regional development. The enhancement of transport infrastructure nationally and locally is absolutely vital and under Transport 21, Galway and the West will be supported and encouraged to grow and maintain its economic success and allow its citizens to enjoy the quality of life this area can and does provide”.

The Minister added: “One of the current challenges facing Galway city and county is traffic congestion. We want to improve this situation and under Transport 21 we have seen the completion of the Loughrea Bypass with construction commencing this year on new bypasses for Ballinasloe, Loughrea (2nd bypass) and Oranmore as part of the Galway / Ballinasloe project on the Galway to Dublin motorway. Meanwhile bypasses for Tuam, Claregalway, Athenry and the Ballinasloe/Athlone motorway section are proceeding through the planning process - with over €62 million being allocated this year”. The Minister added: “Transport 21 will also tackle congestion in Galway by enhancing the public transport infrastructure. The development of a commuter rail service between Galway and Athenry, new stations at Oranmore and Sixmilebridge and a rail service between Ennis/Tuam as part of the Western Rail Corridor to Claremorris and eventually to Sligo, will support an alternative public transport service for the city and county. Line clearance work has commenced and physical track renewal on this important piece of infrastructure will start this year”.

The development of a bus-based public transport network, building on recent fleet investment will also ease congestion in the city. The Minister said that Iarnród Éireann will also be improving services on the line between Galway and Dublin. One hundred and fifty new railcars are in the process of being introduced into the intercity network. These enhancements will see hourly services on the Galway-Dublin route at peak times and two-hourly services in off-peak.

An overall key element of the new National Development Plan is the substantial investment provision for transport in all parts of the country. The Plan endorses Transport 21, the Government’s capital investment programme for transport for the ten years from 2006-2015. With a budget in excess of €34 billion, Transport 21 is the largest infrastructural programme ever undertaken in this State. All of the elements of Transport 21 for the period 2007 to 2013 are included in the new NDP. Over the life of this Plan, total investment under the transport programme will be some €32.9 billion.

The Transport Programme will comprise the following Sub-Programmes:
Roads - €17.6 billion;
Public Transport - €13 billion;
Air Transport - €1.9 billion and
Ports - €481 million.

€26.9 billion of the total investment will be funded by Exchequer and PPP resources. This comprises investment over the seven years of:

· Almost €13.3 billion in national roads including additional toll based PPP investment of €1.865 billion;
· Just under €13 billion in public transport;
· €484 million in non-national roads;
· €89 million in regional airports;
· €90 million in the rural transport initiative and
· €31 million in regional harbours.

In addition, approximately €1.8 billion will be invested in the state airports and approximately €450 million in the commercial ports from the resources of the companies concerned.

Issued by
Michelle Hoctor, 087 8563070
Veronica Scanlan, 087 6430622

The new National Development Plan 2007-2013 can be downloaded by accessing www.finance.gov.ie