asked the Minister for Local Government if there has been increased congestion on the roads by private motor cars consequent on the decrease from 5.3 million to 4.5 million in the number of CIE bus passenger journeys; and if he intends to take any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Road Traffic Congestion.
153.
The Central Statistics Office in recently revised figures show that the total number of passengers carried on scheduled bus services within the State was 274 million in 1970 and 254.5 million in 1971. Based on a 52-week year, these figures give weekly averages of 5.3 million in 1970 and 4.9 million in 1971. The figures so far available for the current year show an upward trend.
It is not practicable to assess the effect on traffic congestion of short-term fluctuations in the number of bus passengers. Measurements of traffic conditions are based on the number of vehicles using the road system at a given time rather than on the number of persons travelling in these vehicles. Long-term transportation planning, including the planning of road and bridge works, has regard to all the needs and desires for personal movements and how these movements will be affected.
Have the Minister or his Department had meetings with CIE in relation to the effect of the latter's fares policy on the incidence of road traffic congestion in Dublin?
My Department are in touch with authorities in the Dublin area such as CIE quite regularly and discuss matters of this kind. This has been going on for some time but the meetings have been held on a more regular basis during the last two years.