asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take the initiative in setting up a body composed of top level people from his Department, the Departments of Finance and Transport and Power, Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Borough Council to study as a matter of urgency the problems of traffic and transport in the Dublin region so that the necessary steps can be taken to ensure the proper planning of these services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Traffic Problems.
31.
A committee of senior officers of the corporation, the other Dublin local authorities, CIE, the Garda Síochána and my Department is already in existence to co-ordinate activities in relation to traffic in the Dublin region. This body is mainly concerned with short-term measures. In so far as long-term measures are concerned this is primarily a matter for the planning authorities concerned in the preparation of development plans to whom my Department, and I have no doubt all other bodies concerned, have given and will continue to give every assistance.
Does the Minister not agree that there is very big financial outlay involved in the decisions that must be arrived at if we are not to have chaos in traffic in the Dublin region in the near future and is it not essential that such a body should be set up now in order to anticipate the position with proper planning before the plans are finalised for the Dublin region?
As I say, it is a matter for the planning authorities concerned and my Department will give every assistance in co-ordinating the plans.
I wonder is the Minister aware that an initial meeting took place between the planning authorities concerned and that they feel that it is essential that the Department of Finance, the Department of Local Government and the Department of Transport and Power should be in on this at this time and that they consider it is a matter of urgency?
The interests of these Departments will be taken into account.