andMr. Tully asked the Minister for Transport if he will give details of the proposed expenditure of £0.93 million set out in the public capital programme 1981 for the provision of bus priority routes on five arterial routes in Dublin; (1) the mileage that will be affected by such routes; (2) the location of these routes; (3) the proposed commencement date and (4) the completion dates of the work involved including sign-posting and road widening.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bus Priority Routes.
8.
The expenditure provision of £0.93 million is the estimatd cost of the physical works relating to the implementation of bus priority measures in the Dublin area. It includes the cost of purchasing and erecting road signs and road markings and, where necessary, road widening and diversion of services.
As I have indicated previously, it is planned to introduce bus priority measures during 1981 on the main arterial routes between the city centre and the suburbs of Whitehall, Artane, Blackrock, Rathfarnham and Rathgar. Design of the first schemes is now in hands and the schemes will be introduced on a phased basis, starting in April of this year. More precise details, which are not available at this time, will be published in the media in advance of the introduction of each scheme.
I thank the Minister of State for his information, but how is it possible for him on the one hand to give such a firm commitment and at the same time state that the details involving the kind of necessary changes in the road system are not available at this moment?
The consultants are working on this in consultation with the task force. Dublin Corporation reassure me that it will be possible to start the introduction of the works priority measures in April.
Do the Department propose at any stage to discuss these changes in the five or six arterial routes with the public representatives on Dublin Corporation and some of the residents' associations who will be directly involved?
I understand that Dublin Corporation have representatives of all these areas and that this is a matter of continual negotiation with Dublin Corporation and all the relevant bodies.
A final supplementary.
As the Minister of State may still be a member of Mayo County Council, could I ask him if he will accept the distinction between the county manager and the members of the council, and that in this instance, to my clear knowledge, the public representatives who will bear the brunt of any public response have not been involved in the details of this and are not aware of details such as the Minister has given out? Can he give the House some undertaking that he will request the City Manager, Mr. Feely, to ensure that the public representatives directly affected by the arterial routes in question will be kept fully and directly informed?
I understand that Dublin Corporation are kept fully aware of all that is suggested as far as the priority routes are concerned. I did mention in my reply that it would be published in advance of any schemes that are necessary. I understand the Deputy's anxiety in this regard, but I understand also, as far as the county council are concerned anyway, that the county manager simply carries out the instructions and directions as laid down for him by his council.
That is not the case and the Minister knows it.
Then I think that the fault lies elsewhere than in here.
That is a terrible thing to hear from the Minister.
On the contrary, it is to his credit.