Minister Dempsey on 2009 Transport Spending

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey (photo: AllAboutBuses.com)

GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE

Ministers announce €3.6 billion for Transport (Budget 2009)

• €1.27 billion on improved Public Transport
• €2.1 billion on National, Regional and Local Roads
• €40 million on Road Safety
• €35m for Aviation Sector and development of Regional Airports
• €48 million for improved activities of Coast Guard and Maritime Safety

Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD, today outlined plans for a €3.6 billion investment package in transport for the coming year following the publication of Budget 2009.

Speaking today Minister Dempsey said; “The €3.6 billion in this year’s transport budget underlines the Government’s continued commitment to investing in key transport infrastructure projects. A word class transport infrastructure is critical to our economy’s competitiveness. This funding will allow me to continue rolling out Transport 21 projects such as Metro North and the new Dart Interconnector, both of which will provide the backbone of an integrated public transport system for Dublin.

With this funding I aim to progress a variety of Transport 21 projects particularly in the area of public transport. Next year I also intend to continue rolling out our major interurban motorways which are now nearing completion.”

Speaking today, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Mr. Noel Ahern TD said; “A total of almost €40 million is being provided by this Government for road safety initiatives in 2009. This level of funding for the Road Safety Authority and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety will solidify the key role these organisations play in implementing the Road Safety Strategy. During the period 1997-2007 for example, we have seen deaths of our roads drop by 30% so this funding will help to augment this welcome downward trend.

The allocation of €48 million to maritime transport and safety will allow us to improve and modernise the Irish Coast Guard and continue to invest in maritime safety.”

The main transport programmes that Budget ‘09 provides for are as follows:

Public Transport – €1.27 billion

This will enable progress on a wide range of projects, including:

• Luas extensions to Cherrywood, Docklands and Citywest;
• Planning and enabling works on Metro North;
• Planning works for the DART Interconnector.
• Improved bus priority measures in Dublin and the regional cities;
• The completion of the Middleton rail line
• Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor from Ennis to Athenry;
• The construction of the Kildare Route project
• Phase 1 of the Navan rail line;
• The continuation of Iarnród Éireann’s railway safety programme;
• The start of the Dublin city centre rail re-signalling programme;
• Continued roll-out of new railcars on the intercity routes;

Other notable projects that will be continued into 2009 are:

• The Rural Transport Programme (now operating in every county and will provide more than million passenger journeys in 2009)
• The Green Schools Programme (targeting 140,000 school kids by providing walking/cycling/public transport alternatives to get to school).

Roads – €2.1 billion

Key national routes will be progressed as planned, specifically:

• The major inter urban motorway connecting Dublin with Waterford
• The major inter urban motorway connecting Dublin with Galway
• The major inter urban motorway connecting Dublin with Limerick
• The major inter urban motorway connecting Dublin with Cork
• A dual carriageway road within Northern Ireland transforming access to the North West of the Island.
• The Atlantic Road corridor
• The M50 upgrade will be completed.

Over €600 million is being made available to local authorities throughout the country for the upgrade and maintenance of regional and local roads.

Road Safety – €40 million

This funding will be aimed at maintaining the downward trend in road deaths. Deaths on Irish roads have dropped by 30 per cent in the period from 1997 to 2007.

Maritime Transport and Safety – €48 million

This allocation will allow us to improve and modernise the Irish Coast Guard and maritime safety to meet the needs of a 21^st century maritime nation.

Regional Airports/Aviation Sector – € 35 million

The Department has made provisions to meet contractual commitments on the various regional airport projects and our share of the cost of the City of Derry Airport development.

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