Minister Dempsey Announces Record €3.8 billion for Transport

Date: 06 December 2007

· €1.3 billion on improved public transport
· €2.3 billion for national and non national roads
· €48 million for improved Maritime and Coast Guard activities
· €40 million for Road Safety

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey T.D., today outlined plans for a record €3.8 billion investment in transport for the coming year following the publication of Budget 2008.

The 2008 estimates and budget allocation for the Department of Transport of €3.8 billion represents an increase of 36% or €1 billion on the 2007 figure. €1.3 billion is to be provided for Public Transport, €2.3 billion for investment in National and Non-National Roads, almost €48 million to support Maritime and Irish Coast Guard plans and nearly €40 million for the Road Safety Authority - €11 million of which is ring fenced for the driving test system.

Speaking today Minister Dempsey said: “This record funding will allow me to continue to roll out our ambitious public transport projects and our plans in the area of national roads infrastructure. This Government is determined to deliver Transport 21 projects on time and in budget. Budget 2008 will keep us on track.

The funding will allow for significant progress on new Luas lines and Metro north. It will help to purchase new buses for Bus Éireann and it will mean further national road improvements and completions. Driving test waiting times will be slashed to 10 weeks from June next year as a result of this funding. It will shorten journey times and make travelling safer. It will allow us to give people back time - time to enjoy family life, time for living and time for business. A thriving economy demands key infrastructure and we will continue to deliver it.”

This main capital programmes that this budget provides for are as follows:

Public Transport - €1.3 billion:

This will enable:
· continued construction on Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions
· commencement of construction on Citywest Luas extension and further capacity enhancements on the existing lines
· continued planning/design work and the placing of a Railway order for Metro North
· public consultation and design/planning work will continue on Metro West
· continued construction work on Kildare Route project
· continued construction on phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork-Middleton rail line
· continued planning and design work on the Navan Rail line and the Interconnector/Electrification projects.

Roads - €2.3 billion:

The will allow:
· continued roll-out of the major inter urban routes
· work to commence on the N18 Oranmore/Gort/Cusheen phase of the Atlantic Road Corridor.
· phase 1 and 3 of the M50 project
· barrier-free tolling on the Westlink will be completed
· up to 6 more national roads schemes to commence.

Non National Roads €53.8 million with €565 million from the Local Government Fund (LGF):

The capital element will contribute to the non-national road investment programme and the LGF will provide for the maintenance of the non-national road network.

Road Safety Authority - €40 million:

Of this amount the RSA will provide €11.4 million for the Driving test system and €5.9 million will be provided towards Road Safety promotion Campaigns & Programmes.

Maritime safety and Irish Coast Guard - €48 million:

This allocation will allow us to improve and modernise the Irish Coast Guard and the Maritime Safety to equip these areas to meet the needs of a 21st Century maritime nation.

Regional Airports - €41.5 million :

The Department will continue the rollout of the €86 million multi-annual capital grant programme for these airports under Transport 21. The provision aims to enhance safety and security measures and to assist in providing the infrastructure necessary to cater for projected growth in the sector.

Regional Harbours - €3.8 million:

The Department will concentrate this funding on essential remedial works pending the transfer of the harbours to local control.