Vol. 424 No. 9
66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the average waiting period for air traffic control clearance at Dublin Airport in each of the months June, July and August, in 1985 and 1992; the plans, if any, she has for improvement in traffic control facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
While records for 1985 are not available, I can assure the House that apart from very isolated exceptional situations, there are no delays at Dublin Airport, due to problems in the Irish air traffic control system in the granting of air traffic contol clearance.
The air traffic control — ATC — equipment at Dublin is among the most modern in Europe and was part of a £30 million re-equipment programme undertaken by my Department over the past five years. I am satisfied with the facilities at Dublin Airport and will continue to upgrade these as required to meet the future needs at the airport.
67 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the plans, if any, to improve public transport to Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The planning and provision of particular public transport services are matters for the board of CIE in the first instance. As regards the future of public transport for the greater Dublin area as a whole, the Interim Report of Phase 2 of the Dublin Transportation Initiative — DTI — which is now almost completed has been circulated in draft form to the DTI Steering Committee, the Local Authority Committee and the Consultative Panel for consideration. The draft includes a number of different options to serve Dublin Airport and Swords viz:— a rail link from the Dublin-Belfast line to Dublin Airport with a DART service to the City Centre; extension of a proposed Ballymun light rail link to include Dublin Airport and Swords and the establishment of a "quality bus corridor" from Swords to the City Centre. When the interim report is finalised, it will be submitted to the Government.
The DTI Report will form an integral part of the input into negotiations on EC Structural Funds for the period after 1993. The draft report provides an integrated transportation strategy involving significant roads development, major public transport investments and the introduction of strengthened traffic management measures. On the public transport side the draft report contains radical proposals for enhanced commuter transport services, including bus and light rail options, extended DART and upgraded rail commuter services to resolve the traffic congestion problems of the greater Dublin area. However, I must emphasise that, having regard to the state of the public finances, the availability of substantial EC funding will be crucially important to the implementation of the main recommendations of the DTI.
