Peter Robinson hopes to increase use of public transport

But more than two thirds of the money would be aimed at improving Northern Ireland's roads infrastructure.

The minister, nevertheless, said he hoped to attract double the percentage of people using an improved bus and rail network - from 4% of all journeys to 8%.

High-speed bus corridors are planned and the minister has made a commitment to replace older buses in service with new vehicles.

There is also to be a much greater emphasis on the rural public transport network.

I regard it as an imperative that we get the additional funding to have this strategy going forward

Peter Robinson

Mr Robinson said the money must be found from executive funds to implement the strategy.

He said: "I regard it as an imperative that we get the additional funding to have this strategy going forward otherwise we are going to have a very bleak picture in terms of the next 10 years for Northern Ireland."

However, the strategy has already drawn criticism from the public transport and environmental campaigners.

Liz Fawcett from the pressure group, Transport 2000, said the minister was wrong to prioritise spending on roads before public transport.