Spend on running public transport up by just €6m

The amount spent on running public transport services will rise by a mere €6 million next year, it was revealed in today’s Budget.

Budget 2009, published today Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, shows that gross expenditure for the Department of Transport next year will be €3.613 billion.

Of that, €900 million has been earmarked for public transport infrastructure, a decrease of €70 million on this year. Of that total, €1.4 billion has been allocated for road projects.

In total, €1,27 billion will be spent on a number of rail and bus projects, including Luas extensions to Cherrywood, Docklands and Citywest and the upgrading of bus lanes in Dublin and other cities.

Planning works on Dublin's Metro North and Dart interconnector will also get underway. The Midleton rail line will be completed and the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor and the Navan rail lines will begin. Construction will also continue on the Kildare Route project.

Completion dates for all of these rail projects are unclear.

Some €338 million will go towards the operation of public transport services throughout Ireland. This is just €6 million more than the budget for this year.

The National Roads Authority has been allocated €1.4 billion for capital expenditure, a drop of €157 million on this year. Mr Lenihan warned that the shortfall will mean "some projects will necessarily have to slow down" and there be "some rescheduling of projects".

Mr Lenihan promised that the M50 upgrade and the construction of motorways linking Dublin with Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Cork would be completed by the end of 2010. There will also be "progress" on the Atlantic Road corridor.

He said that while over €600 million would be available to local authorities to upgrade and maintain regional and local roads, "the impact of the reduced current allocation is being spread across a number of areas and principally involves reduced expenditure on road maintenance."

Road safety measures have been allocated €40 million next year, while €48 million will go towards improving and modernising the Irish Coast Guard.

Some €10 million has been set aside for carbon reduction measures in the transport sector, while a further €13.5 million will be spent on planning for a major dual carriageway in Northern Ireland.

Funding for regional airports is to be cut by €13 million next year to €11 million.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said the Budget underlines the Government’s continued commitment to investing in transport infrastructure. “A world class transport infrastructure is critical to our economy’s competitiveness,” he said. “With this funding I aim to progress a variety of Transport 21 projects particularly in the area of public transport.”