Towards 2016 - Department of Taoiseach

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Transport 21 (2006-2015)Overview of Progress in 2007• Total expenditure was €2.8 billion, an increase of 46% on the 2006 outturn. Of this,expenditure on public transport was €640.4m, up 82% on 2006.• The first of the five Major Inter-Urban routes (MIUs) was completed with the opening of thefinal section of the M1 Dublin – Border motorway, providing motorway standard road fromDublin Port to the Northern Ireland Border.• By the end of 2007, 86% of the MIU network was either open to traffic or at construction andall the projects on the network are now through the statutory approval process.• A total of 11 national road projects were completed during the year and construction startedon a further 10. Work continued on 10 projects.• The benefits of rolling stock investment were realised during the year with the introduction ofhourly return services on the Cork – Dublin route and the deployment of new intercity railcarson the Sligo line. Passenger numbers grew by 14% on the Cork service.• Work started on the upgrading of the Kildare rail line which will, when completed, permit amajor increase in services on that corridor.• Construction got underway on Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork – Midletonline, important steps in promoting the balanced regional development objectives of theNational Spatial Strategy.• Additional public transport capacity was provided with the introduction into service of newbuses in Dublin and longer trams on the Tallaght Luas line.• Work started on the Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions.Monitoring and Evaluation in 2007Monitoring and Evaluation arrangements of Transport 21 have been put in place involving theDepartment of Transport, the implementing agencies, the Inter-Departmental Monitoring Group andthe Programme Board.Public Transport Partnership ForumThe Public Transport Partnership Forum (PTPF) met most recently on 22 November, 2007 to discussupdates on the Dublin Transportation Office Strategy for 2010 to 2030.Housing Policy FrameworkBuilding Sustainable CommunitiesSignificant resources are being made available for housing in 2008: over €1.7 billion in Exchequercapital and current finance, up 16% on the 2007 Estimate.Further progress was made on the housing reform agenda in the last quarter of 2007.The revised grant schemes for adapting private homes for people with a disability and older peoplebecame operational on 1 November, 2007.Two reports on measures to promote improvements in private rented standards, including good practiceguidelines for local authorities were published in November, 2007.Progress was made on the development of a new homeless strategy which will be published in the firstquarter of 2008.Work is well underway on the drafting of a new Housing Bill to underpin the reform process.3
Energy PolicyNational Energy Efficiency AwarenessAn Energy Efficiency Action Plan was published for consultation, going beyond the energy end useand services directive target for 2016 by putting in place a target of 20% energy efficiency for thewhole economy for 2020, with a higher exemplar of a 30% target for the public sector.The Irish Energy Research CouncilThe Council is working on a Research Strategy for Ireland (2008 – 2013) which it expects to submit tothe Minister early in 2008.Renewable EnergyThe Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Scheme produced 22m litres of biofuel to end of November 2007and the Government has extended the 50% VRT relief on Flexible Fuel Vehicles, to 30 June, 2008 atwhich point the revised VRT scheme based on CO2 emissions will be implemented.The Department is currently finalising a biofuels obligation consultation paper which will provide along-term market based framework for the development of a biofuels sector and delivery of 2010 and2020 biofuel targets.The grants programme for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) will enable businesses, schools andhospitals to receive grants for the installation of biomass-fuelled and anaerobic digestion CHP units.Electricity Interconnector between Ireland and WalesIn December 2007, the Minister announced that he will introduce priority legislation early in 2008 toallow EirGrid to construct, own, operate and maintain the interconnector.EirGrid has obtained a formal connection offer from the UK National Grid located in Wales. Work ona marine survey to determine the most suitable route for the undersea cable has also commenced.EirGrid issued an Invitation to Negotiate document for the design and construction of theinterconnector.All-Island Single Wholesale Electricity MarketOn 12 November, 2007, the new all-island market was formally launchedAll-Island Gas MarketEnd 2007 saw work commence by the two Departments North and South and the Regulators, on anumber of short term actions set out in the Government’s Energy Policy Framework in order toprogress the delivery of an all-island gas market.TelecommunicationsPhase II of the Metropolitan Area Network (MANs)Phase II of the MANs programme is currently underway with 37 networks constructed and underconstruction in another 29 towns.National Broadband Scheme (NBS)The competitive dialogue process is now underway with the estimated timescale for the award of theNBS contract being quarter two of 2008, with rollout of the services due to begin as soon as possiblethereafter.Education and TrainingMeasures under the Delivery Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) action plan includedexpansion of literacy programmes such as Reading Recovery for schools and the commencement of thefamily literacy project. In addition, almost €19m in financial supports was allocated to schools underthe DEIS initiative for the 2007/08 school year.4
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