The transport system in Northern Ireland is to receive an investment of �3.5billion over the next decade.

The announcement was made in the assembly on Wednesday by Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson.

He outlined the first ever regional transport strategy for the province which includes �36m for rural public transport.

But the cornerstone is a rapid transit - or light rail - system into the centre of Belfast at a cost of �100m.

What we are going to be looking for is a strategy shaped by the imperative to halt traffic growth

Lisa Fagan Friends of the Earth

Mr Robinson also said �12m would be spent on a transport programme for people with disabilities.

It is thought to be one of the most detailed strategies ever to be considered by the assembly, and it is certainly one of the most expensive to date.

However, the bulk of the spending will still be on roads with dozens of major road projects, including bypasses and widening part of the M1 - to be completed by 2010.

Poverty

Earlier, Lisa Fagan of Friends of the Earth warned that more roads were not the answer and appealed for a better public transport infrastructure.

"What we are going to be looking for is a strategy shaped by the imperative to halt traffic growth and a strategy shaped by the other imperative to alleviate, or indeed, eliminate transport poverty," she said.

"It will be important for a region such as ours, with very low levels of car ownership, to meet the transport needs of those without cars as well as those motorists who would like to transfer onto public transport."

Mr Robinson also gave details of a water resource strategy for the next 30 years or so.

He said demand was continuing to rise and if appropriate measures to increase efficiency and reduce leakage were not taken now, there would be a shortfall of 20% by 2030 for drinking water.

He said new sources of supply from Lough Neagh, rivers and lakes would be utilised and a �25m programme to reduce leaks would be put in place.