Dáil Éireann - Volume 683 - 26 May, 2009

Written Answers. - Transport 21.

Deputy Alan Shatter Deputy Alan Shatter

Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the number of projects detailed in Transport 21 which have yet to commence; the number which will not meet the deadline for the Transport 21 investment programme; the projects which have gone over budget; the amount in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21231/09]

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

521

[521] Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if all of the proposals contained in Transport 21 are on target to proceed as planned; the exceptions, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21534/09]

Deputy Noel Dempsey Deputy Noel Dempsey

  Deputy Noel Dempsey:I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 241 together.

Transport 21 continues to provide the strategic framework guiding Government investment in transport up to 2015.

Over 60% of the major inter urban roads programme, linking Dublin with Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and the Border with Northern Ireland, has been completed and the remainder is under construction and on target for completion in 2010. The upgrade of the M50 motorway is also on target for completion in 2010.

On public transport, the new Docklands railway station has opened and Irish Rail has completely modernised its intercity rolling stock under Transport 21. A number of projects such as the Midleton rail line, Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor, the Luas line to Docklands and the Kildare rail project are scheduled to be completed this year, while construction continues on other projects such as the Luas lines to Cherrywood and Citywest and the first phase of the Navan rail line between Clonsilla and Pace.

However, in the light of the changed economic circumstances, it has been necessary to review investment priorities across all Government Departments. As a result of this review, my Department’s priorities for the coming years have been identified as:

completion of the five major inter-urban roads

completion of the M50 upgrade project

progress on the Atlantic Road Corridor

provision of additional capacity on the public transport network through the delivery of key projects such as Metro North and the DART Underground programme.

The planning of the major transport capital projects identified in Transport 21 is continuing and they will be released for construction as soon as they are through statutory procedures and the available financial resources permit and consistent with the priorities I have outlined.

Since the commencement of Transport 21, 35 national roads projects have been completed, the vast majority on or under budget. However, seven projects have gone over budget:

N52 Mullingar Bypass;

N55 Cavan Bypass;

Dublin Port Tunnel;

N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension;

N5 Charlestown Bypass;

M50 Upgrade Phase 1 and N51 Navan Inner Relief Road.

These projects still have close out costs associated with them and it is not possible to say definitively what the final costs will be. However it is not expected that the final costs will be significantly more than originally anticipated.

522

[522] Question No. 74 answered with Question No. 70.

Dáil Éireann 683 Written Answers. Transport 21.

Questions

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