Transport budget up 17% to meet project promises

TRANSPORT has received one of the largest increases in the 2007 Estimates with spending to increase by 17% to just over €2.8 billion as the Government seeks to implement many important projects promised under its Transport 21 programme.

Funding for the Government’s public transport investment programme is going up 58% to over €777 million as the Department of Transport has provided for increased levels of spending on bus and rail services.

However, the Estimates provide no real clue as to the Budget for key projects such as the planned Metro for Dublin and the extension of the two existing Luas lines, despite criticism of Transport Minister Martin Cullen for failing to publish the cost of such projects.