The Government has allocated £56 million to improve public transport by providing more buses in Dublin, upgrading mainline rail services, adding extra DART carriages and enhancing the suburban rail network. From April, Dublin will get 150 new buses, boosting rush-hour capacity by 20 per cent. Funding for the first 50 buses was approved in June but the Government provided a further £17 million to cover the cost of the remainder in yesterday's Book of Estimates. The buses, which will serve the extended network of quality bus corridors, will be introduced on a phased basis as they are supplied by the manufacturer from April. "The direct funding of 150 extra Dublin buses will ensure that from next year the quality bus corridor network will play a major role in the battle against the capital's gridlock," a CIE spokesman said.
The Government has also provided £20 million to fund the planning, design and initial construction of the Luas light rail network while £19 million has been earmarked as the Exchequer's contribution to the public transport investment package approved as part of the reallocation of funding for Luas announced in June.