DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
24 November 2010
Q & A –Four Year Plan
Capital Investment
The 4-year Plan sets out the following proposed capital allocations for the Department of Transport for 2011 to 2014:
|
|
2011
€m
|
2012
€m
|
2013
€m
|
2014
€m
|
Total
€m
|
|
Proposed allocation in 4 Year Plan
|
1,438
|
1,329
|
1,075
|
1,001
|
4,843
|
No project has been cancelled and planning and design will continue so that projects can commence as funding becomes available.
Public Transport
Is Metro North going ahead?
Yes. Metro North is the major component of the public transport allocation. The planning and procurement processes for Metro North are proceeding. The estimated expenditure on Metro North in the period 2011-2014 is now slightly less than previously estimated because of the An Bord Pleanala requirement to relocate the depot. This will result in a short delay of a number of months in the overall timescale for the project.
Notwithstanding this, enabling works for Metro North will commence in 2011 and the procurement process will continue. This is expected to result in the selection of a preferred bidder in 2012. The final business case for the project will then be submitted to Government for approval to proceed to construction.
Is DART Underground going ahead?
It will now not be possible to deliver the tunnel element of the programme in the immediate period. However, some of the re-signalling and associated works, which have capacity benefits in and of themselves, will proceed over the next four years and this will prepare the network for the delivery of the underground tunnel once financial resources permit.
An Bord Pleanala has commenced the oral hearing for DART Underground. It is likely that the railway order could be made by the end of 2011. The DART Underground project is an extensive programme involving the construction of an underground tunnel, to be delivered by public private partnership, and the delivery of various other resignalling and associated works to facilitate the integration of the Northern and Kildare Lines via the tunnel.
What other public transport projects will go ahead in this period?
We will continue to spend on vital public transport programmes such as railway safety, traffic management, accessibility and real time passenger information across the country. In Dublin the Luas extension to Citywest will be complete in 2011 and a new public transport bridge at Marlborough Street will commence construction. Planning will continue on a range of other public transport projects including Luas BXD, the cross-city link, Luas extensions to Lucan and Bray, and Metro West. Funding is available to commence construction on the Navan Line in 2013. Money will also be provided for the purchase of new buses for PSO services.
What is the position on the Western Rail Corridor?
Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor opened this year. While there will be some initial planning and design for Phase 2, further progress will be dependent on a review of the performance of Phase 1 and a full economic assessment of Phase 2.
What funding is available for roads ?
There is funding of €1,820 million for national roads and €1,045 million for regional & local roads. These funds will be augmented by private funds in the case of national roads and by local authority own resources in the case of regional & local roads. In addition the Government is examining ways of increasing the allocation for regional & local roads including the recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review.
What road projects will proceed in 2011?
- NRA will go ahead with the planned 2011 starts and have adequate money for rehabilitation and minor works.
- Starts include Belturbet / N5 Longford/ Tralee bypasses and the Cork Southern Ring Road junctions.
- Two PPP projects will also start in 2011 - the M17/18 Gort – Tuam PPP and M11/Newlands Cross PPP bypasses.
- Purchase of land for service areas and expressions of interest from developers
What roads projects are planned after 2011?
- There will be no major schemes starting in 2012 or 2013.
- Possibility of commencing construction of N14 Lifford/Letterkenny.
- The following high priority schemes will proceed as funding becomes available and planning permission is granted: N5 Ballaghadreen bypass, the N4 Downes grade separation, the N2 Slane bypass, the N22 Macroom to Ballyvourney, the N8/N25 Dunkettle roundabout.
- The Enniscorthy/ New Ross bypasses PPP may restart the procurement process when there is further insight into 2015 and 2016 funding plans.
- Rehabilitation and minor works will be curtailed in 2013 and 2014, to the extent necessary to balance the budget, but will be increased again in 2015 (even if the overall budget stays very low). This will be necessary to protect existing investment.
What are the plans re tolling?
The Minister has received a report from the NRA with a range of options for tolling. He is examining this report at present and will shortly respond to NRA. If a decision is taken to approve additional tolling any revenue will be used to further improve the road network. The earliest date for introduction of new tolls would be late 2012.
What progress has been made to date on Transport 21 projects?
Significant projects include :
- Four of the five major inter-urban motorways, the M50 upgrade and the M3 have been completed and the final section of the M7 Dublin to Limerick will be open by the end of this year.
- The Cork-Midleton line, the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor and Phase 1 of the Navan line have been completed.
- The Kildare railway line has been upgraded and a number of new Dublin suburban stations have opened.
- The Luas Docklands extension opened last December, Cherrywood opened in October this year and City West is well advanced and is scheduled to open in 2011. Capacity on the Red and Green Luas lines was increased.
- The Irish Rail fleet has been renewed, a state of the art Traincare Depot has been provided in Portlaoise and over 500 buses have been purchased.
24 November 2010
|
Capital Allocation 2010-2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
|
|
€m.
|
€m.
|
€m.
|
€m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A5 Department of Transport Administrative Capital Allocation
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B1 Roads
|
|
|
|
|
|
- National Roads Improvement/Maintenance
|
720
|
600
|
260
|
240
|
|
- Regional/Local Roads
|
270
|
285
|
250
|
240
|
|
Roads Total
|
990
|
885
|
510
|
480
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3 Road Safety Agencies and Expenses
|
1
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B4 Vehicle and Driver Licensing Expenses
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B5 Carbon Reduction Measures
|
19.9
|
24.2
|
21.2
|
15.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C2 Public Transport
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Public Transport Infrastructure - NTA
|
240
|
253
|
387
|
400
|
|
- Public Transport Safety & Development
|
138
|
118
|
123
|
76
|
|
- Public Transport Projects
|
16
|
21
|
17
|
17
|
|
Public Transport Total
|
394.0
|
392.0
|
527.0
|
493.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D2 Regional Airports
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E1 Maritime Administration and Irish Coastguard
|
15
|
17
|
12
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F3 Cross Border Initiatives **
|
14
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
1,438.0
|
1,329.0
|
1,075.0
|
1,001.0
|
|
** It is proposed that the 2013 and 2014 costs of the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry will be met from the Capital Reserve Fund
|
Issued by Press Office, Department of Transport Tel; 01 6041090/91