Funding increases sought for NI transport plan

Northern Ireland's Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson is expected to call for significant increases in funding required to implement his 10 year transport plan.

Mr Robinson will tomorrow urge Assembly members to approve the principles of the Regional Transportation Strategy.

After a prolonged consultation period his department has agreed a number of changes which will require substantially more than the additional £950m (1.479bn) highlighted in the draft plan published in February.

The key elements of the plan still involve the creation of an extensive rural transport system and a rapid transit network for the greater Belfast area.

But the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative announced today by David Trimble and Mark Durkan means that there will be greater funds available for more ambitious improvements.

The North's Department of Regional Development (DRD) received an extra £44m (€68.5m) - £39m (€60.75m) for roads and £5m (7.78m) for public transport - for the next two years and it is hoped that this will increase over the 10 year period.