Dáil Question No: 31 to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the use of bus lanes; his further plans to review the bus lane system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Seán Crowe. (Nominated by: Dessie Ellis).

Answered by the Minister of State for Transport – Alan Kelly

REPLY

Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority  in December 2009 responsibility for the delivery of an integrated transport system, including funding for Quality Bus Corridors in the Greater Dublin Area  is a matter for the National Transport Authority I have therefore asked the National Transport Authority to send the relevant information to the Deputy, and you might advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As regards the rest of the country, my Department is funding an ongoing programme of Bus Priority Measures (Green Routes) and Park & Ride facilities in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. An amount of €5.5 million has been provided in 2011 to the four cities.

Public Transport Feasibility Studies have been commissioned by the local authorities in the four regional cities and these were funded by my Department. The purpose of these studies is to examine the most appropriate and feasible public transport systems for the cities in question. The completed studies include recommendations in relation to bus priority measures.

I would point out that some of the recommendations of the Feasibility Studies are already being funded under the Regional Cities Bus Priority and Park & Ride Programme,  and since 2006 the four cities concerned have received funding totalling €55 million under this programme.

The National Transport Authority is currently examining the recommendations of the completed studies, as requested by my Department, in consultation as necessary with other appropriate Bodies with a view to assessing and prioritising future public transport options for the four regional cities, having regard to the current difficult budgetary position.