Speech for the Minister for Transport Estimates 2007

Date: 17 November 2006

The 2007 Gross Estimate for the Department of Transport at €2.8 billion is an increase of 17% or €415 million on the 2006 Revised Estimate. This Estimate allows for the continued high level of investment on the development of an integrated transport infrastructure as envisaged by Transport 21. It allows us to move strongly forward with the delivery of that vision in 2007.

In relation to the Estimate provision published for my Department, there will be significant further improvements on Public Transport in 2007. The additional capacity and increased frequency of services already in evidence as a result of the massive investment of almost €2.8 billion since 1999, will be further augmented by an investment of €777 million in 2007.

Over €1.5 billion will be invested in the National Roads Development Programme and some €28 million will go towards the support of Regional Airports. Funding of €45 million will be provided to support the vital work of the Irish Coastguard and marine safety generally.

Transport 21

The 2007 Estimate provides for a 21% increase in capital funding for Transport 21, the Government's capital investment programme for transport from 2006 to 2015.

A transport system catering for Ireland's substantial demographic and economic level of growth is essential and Transport 21 is structured to meet the future demands related to:

the commercial life of the country, whether for the movement of goods or for facilitating people to get to their places of employment,
tourism, where the market is ever more competitive and where a modern transport network is essential,
quality of life issues; people are spending more and more time travelling to and from their places of employment and we need to redress this work/home life balance and
access to the regions will be greatly enhanced, specifically with the development of the Western Rail corridor.
Public Transport

In 2007, the Government as I have stated, will invest €777 million in public transport, an increase of 58% on the 2006 Estimate. This is an unambiguous signal that Transport 21 is gaining real traction and is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to the development of a world-class public transport system.

These are exciting times for the development of the rail network. Ireland will soon have the newest intercity rail service in Europe with a total of 217 new Intercity Carriages arriving between 2006 and 2009.

In the past few years the railway network has been virtually rebuilt and has been saved from decline and extinction. Passenger numbers have increased substantially as a result and last year Iarnród Eireann carried nearly 38 million passengers, making it the fastest growing railway network in Europe.

Well over €2 billion has been invested in CIÉ operated transport services since 2000 under the NDP and Transport 21.

Projects

Last year 36 new diesel railcars entered into service, the majority on the Dublin/Sligo route with the remainder introduced on the Maynooth and Drogheda routes.

The main developments on the railway network in 2006 included the introduction into service of the first of the 67 carriages for the Dublin Cork route, the completion of the DART upgrade and the commencement of work on the Docklands station. The €450 million provision for Iarnrod Éireann's capital envelope in 2007 will fund the completion of the Portlaoise train care depot, which is due for completion in 2007 in time for the 150 new intercity carriages costing €324m. These will start to arrive next year for service on the other Intercity routes Dublin Westport/Ballina, Sligo, Galway, Tralee, Waterford and Rosslare, providing a consistent standard of service across the Intercity Network and improvements in terms of time-savings, reliability, service frequencies and comfort.

The 2007 provisions will also enable Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the construction of the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor. The Western Rail Corridor will have immense social and economic benefits for the region and will promote balanced development.

In the Dublin area, the new Docklands Station will the first station to be built in the city centre in over 100 years. Other projects in the area to be funded in 2007 include the DART Refurbishment programme, the planning and design of Dublin City Centre Resignalling programme and the Clonsilla to Dunboyne section of the old Navan rail line. Work will also get fully underway on the Kildare Route project, which will transform commuter services with service frequency set to double. The project will allow the separation of intercity and commuter services and will improve speed and capacity for commuter, regional and intercity services.

Similarly the Cork Commuter Rail project, which is expected to get underway subject to a satisfactory outcome to the Railway Order process, will provide a new and regular commuter service between Cork City and Midleton; a greatly enhanced commuter service from Mallow to Cork City and new stations at Blarney, Dunkettle and Kilbarry with extensive Park and Ride facilities.

The 2007 provisions will also fund the new 67 Intercity Carriages being used on the flagship CorkDublin Route.

Rail Safety

The 2007 provisions also included in excess of €104 million for the second Railway Safety Programme. This programme, which has revitalised the rail network, provides for a total investment budget of €512m over the period of 2004 to 2008. The 2007 estimates also include over €2 million for the Railway Safety Commission, which was established in January 2006 to regulate railway safety in Ireland.

Buses

The 2007 Book of Estimates also provides for payments due in respect of additional buses for Dublin Bus and for €12 million towards the cost of replacement buses in 2007. Exchequer funding of €30m was approved in last quarter of 2006 for the purchase by Dublin Bus of 100 additional buses. Delivery of the buses will be completed by end of January 2007. Exchequer funding of up to €50 million including €25 million in 2007 is to be provided for up to 160 additional buses for Bus Éireann in the period commencing 2007.

CIE subvention

The provision for the annual subvention to CIE in respect of its public service obligations at over €306m is a 7% increase on the expected 2006 outturn of €285m. The increase reflects the policy in recent years of giving annual increases in the subvention taking account of increased operational costs. The increased provision for 2007 also takes account of the additional costs associated with the additional buses, which were approved in September. The increased capital and current funding for rail and bus services will enable the CIE companies to further improve services throughout the country.

Luas and Metro

The 2007 provision will facilitate the continuation of progress on the Luas and Metro elements of Transport 21, including the commencement of construction on the Luas extension to Cherrywood and the Point Depot; increased tram capacity with a 10m extension of the Tallaght line trams and continued work on Metro North. Planning of the remaining Luas and Metro lines will also continue.

Rural Transport Initiative

In line with Transport 21 and Towards 2016, €9 million is provided to mainstream the Rural Transport Initiative from 2007. The pilot phase of the RTI will conclude at the end of 2006 and preparations are now being made to mainstream the provision of rural transport from 2007 onwards. The mainstreamed programme will build on local community and voluntary commitment in providing rural community transport services in areas where there are un-met transport needs. Further details of the mainstreaming of rural transport will be announced in the coming weeks.

Accessibility

Continued funding will be provided in 2007 for 'Transport Access for All', my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. I am pleased to say that considerable progress has already been achieved towards improving access to public transport for people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments.

Roads

2006 - the first year of Transport 21 - was in every way a record year for Ireland's national roads. The Government hit the ground running in the implementation of the national roads element of Transport 21. By the end of 2006, 16 projects will be completed and open to traffic and a dozen more will have started construction - more than three times the number of starts in the previous year.

Major projects completed in 2006 included the Naas Road Widening scheme and Bypasses of Cavan, Ashbourne, Ballyshannon/Bundoran, Mullingar, Monaghan and Rathcormac/Fermoy.

The improved project management and cost estimation and control arrangements, which have been put in place by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in recent years, has resulted in a very welcome trend of projects being delivered on time and within budget. For example, up to the end of October this year, ten of the 12 projects delivered have been on time and within budget.

The N8 Rathcormac/Fermoy came in 8 months ahead of time with the N25 Kinsale Road Interchange (6 months) and the N8/73 Mitchelstown Relief Road (4 months) also opening well ahead of their original scheduled dates. We are delivering on time and on budget and we will continue to do so.

The benefits the programme is delivering are evident throughout the country. Major traffic bottlenecks have been eliminated and this has delivered substantial journey time-savings and greater journey time certainty. The high quality network being put in place is contributing significantly to supporting our national competitiveness, job creation and to the achievement of more balanced regional development. It will also deliver a positive road safety dividend as upgraded roads, particularly motorway or dual carriageway standard roads, provide a much safer driving environment.

In the early years of Transport 21, investment in the national road network will focus on the completion of the five major inter-urban routes (by 2010). After that we will be concentrating on upgrading the remainder of the national primary network with particular emphasis on the routes to the West and North West of the country and on the Atlantic Corridor Route.

Under Transport 21, the total spend on the national roads development programme in 2007 will be €1.543 billion. This together with private sector funding of some €540 million will maintain the high level of investment in this major infrastructural programme.

The level of funding being provided will allow the pace and momentum of the programme to be maintained during 2007. A number of road projects will be completed next year including the N1 Border/Dundalk, the N6 Kinnegad/Tyrellspass/Kilbeggan and Bypasses of Castleblayney and Gorey. Six projects (with a combined total length of more than 200kms) will begin construction during the year. These are the N3 Clonee/Kells (PPP), Phase 2 of the M50 Upgrade (PPP), the N7/N8 Portlaoise/Cullahill Bypass (PPP), the N9 Knocktopher to Waterford, the N4 Leixslip/M50 Junction and the N6 Galway East Ballinasloe (PPP). A further 12 projects will continue in construction including the N6 Kilbeggan/Athlone, the N8 Cashel/Mitchelstown and Bypasses of Charlestown, Carlow and Waterford City.

Road Safety

A significant element in the advancing of the road safety agenda is the establishment of the Road Safety Authority. The Road Safety Authority was established on the 1 September last and has taken responsibility for a wide range of functions, which have a bearing on road safety. The Authority is in a unique position to coordinate and advance the road safety agenda as it has responsibility for the testing of drivers and vehicles, oversight of the driver licensing system, driver education and the promotion of awareness of road safety in general. It will also be taking responsibility for the road research element of the NRA, which researches road accidents etc. This will enable the Authority to both analyse the causes of road accidents and evaluate what action might be taken and make appropriate recommendations where necessary. An additional sum of €10 million is being provided to the RSA to deal with the driver test backlog. I look forward to the waiting times falling to eight weeks in 2007 as a result of the increased funding which this Government has committed to this vital area.

I would also like to mention that this coming Sunday has been designated 'World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims' by the UN General Assembly. We have an unacceptable rate of deaths and injuries on our roads. These deaths are devastating families and communities.

This year 324 people have died on Irish roads and while this number is less than have been killed this time last year, nothing less than a sustained reduction in road accidents is acceptable to me.

Aviation Sector

The 2007 Estimates will continue to provide for regional airports, aviation consultancies, air accident investigation insurance and payments to the Irish Aviation Authority.

As you will appreciate, regional airports provide a significant level of access to their catchment area for tourism and business traffic and thereby contribute to balanced regional development. During 2007, my Department will contribute €15 million to support Public Service Obligation flights between Dublin and the regional airports to underpin this role.

An important development during 2006 was the launch of a capital expenditure grant scheme for these airports. The proposals received under the scheme from the regional airports are currently being assessed and I hope to make an announcement on the allocations to the individual airports by the end of the month. A sum of €11 million is being provided in 2007.

I also envisage that at the same time, I will be in a position to announce the allocation available under a separate scheme, which I also launched this year to provide for annual subvention of the operational expenditure incurred by these airports in providing core airport services.

Marine Sector

In 2006, funding associated with the Department's Marine Sector ensured the continuation of vital work related to the Irish Coastguard and maritime safety generally. The Marine Sector will be allocated almost €45 million in 2007 to further enhance these functions.

The Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for Search and Rescue (SAR) in addition to marine pollution and salvage response. Most of the expenditure in 2006 related to essential helicopter services but also provided for the development of additional Coast Guard Units. A new Station House was opened in 2006 at Bunbeg, Co. Donegal and two more were commenced in Achill, Co. Mayo, and Rosaveal, Co. Galway. The 2007 capital allocation of over €2.8m provides for continued investment in this building programme in addition to providing for the upgrading and expansion of the Irish Coast Guard's radio communications network. The total funding provision for the Irish Coast Guard in 2007 is almost €33 million.

One of the key aspects of the maritime safety function is accident prevention through an appropriate combination of regulation, a heightening of safety awareness and enforcement. The 2007 Estimates will provide for a grant to the Commissioners of Irish Lights and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It also provides for funding towards the new aids to navigation vessel, "The Granuaile", the national network of marine data buoys and the re-development of the headquarters of the Commissioners of Irish Lights in Dún Laoghaire.

For over two years now, the Department has also been funding works to protect the fabric of our regional harbours. The resources available have been concentrated on essential remedial works pending the transfer of the harbours to local control. In 2006, funding was allocated to harbour works at Sligo, Westport, River Moy, Tralee and Fenit. The funding of €4.2 million for 2007 will ensure the continuation of a similar programme of works.

Conclusion

The 2007 Estimates allow for an increase of 21% in capital investment in transport. We will invest more than a million euro extra every single day in 2007 than we invested this year. Already, we can see our national road network being transformed as improved, safer roads make their way across the country. This massive increase in resources will allow us to push further ahead with the delivery of Transport 21. Twelve short months ago, at the launch of our ten-year investment programme, I said that we would deliver a transport system, which connects communities and promotes prosperity. Today, with the announcement of a major investment increase in 2007 we have moved determinedly nearer to making that vision a reality.

ENDS