Godfrey Timmins
Question:12 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if he will ban heavy vehicles and machinery from travelling into and passing through Dublin City at rush hours. [18634/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.
Austin Deasy
Question:45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, there are to solve the growing traffic problems in the greater Dublin area, in particular in the inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18632/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 45 together.
The final report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI) which I launched last August sets out an integrated transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. In addition to significant public transport improvements and some limited road development, the recommended measures include parking restraint, truck management measures, environmental traffic cells and traffic calming arrangements. The Dublin Transportation Office was set up on a statutory basis last month, with a steering committee which will be responsible for co-ordinating and monitoring implementation. In addition, there will be a director of traffic for Dublin who will have overall operational responsibility and a range of specific functions in the traffic management field.
I am satisfied that the DTI strategy, which has been endorsed by the Government, and the implementation arrangements decided on, represent the best possible package of measures to resolve the traffic and transportation problems of the Dublin area. It is the intention that implementation will be pursued vigorously, with the support of the funds allocated for the purpose in the Operational Programme for Transport, 1994-99.
What is the DTI strategy? I have seen no improvement in Dublin traffic which has worsened in recent times.
I will arrange for a copy of the DTI final report to be sent to the Deputy. It is probably the most comprehensive analysis of the problems of Dublin traffic ever undertaken. It certainly involved the greatest consultation process ever undertaken on any subject, and includes detailed analysis of the opinions of motorists, pedestrians, road users of every kind. The strategy involves a number of measures, including the completion of the ring road around Dublin, traffic calming measures within the ring road system, the building of the light rail system, details of which will be announced today by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, the building of strategic bus corridors, extension of the DART, the co-ordination of traffic under a single director of traffic for Dublin and the creation of a particular office, the Dublin Transportation Office, which will have a variety of statutory controls to deal with all the issues that impinge on good traffic management.
That is all very well for the 21st century. I would like to know what plans, if any, the Minister has to deal with traffic in the next few years. Is he prepared to entertain measures such as banning heavy traffic and machinery from city centre streets during rush hours?
The role of the new director of traffic — who will be appointed in the first part of next year, not in the dim and distant future — will be to take responsibility from the Garda Síochána for the operation and augmentation of the traffic warden system, the on-the-spot fines system and the tow away services in Dublin, to look at the introduction of wheel clamping, be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of parking restraint policies, including the prosecution of on-the-spot fines, and to deal with all traffic management measures, including matters about which the Deputy talked. Rather than making the decision in the Custom House, we have a very detailed strategy that has been worked on for a number of years, which has Government approval, which has engaged all the sectoral interests involved in traffic in Dublin, including the local authorities who are representative of all those strands of interest. That is the correct way to go forward. I am determined to push very hard because I recognise that if we do not implement the broad-ranging strategies outlined in this document, we will allow the city of Dublin to choke, and that would be in nobody's interest.
I welcome the DTI report. It will have a positive effect, but not until the next century. What will the new director of traffic do in regard to the traffic to Dublin Port next year from Stena Sealink? The Minister's colleagues in Government climbed over each other in their haste to tell everyone in their constituency the good news that Stena Sealink will operate from Dublin Port. There will be chaos in the city as thousands of trucks converge on the port. This is an example of the NIMBY syndrome. The hands of the new authority will be tied. The DTI proposals will not come into force for many years and in the meantime there will be traffic chaos. I appreciate the Government is tackling the problem but this will have a negative effect on what it is trying to do.
If port users find Rosslare, New Ross or Waterford Ports more accessible I am sure the south east will be happy to facilitate them.
They would have to use a second bridge in Waterford.
That is being investigated but I am sure Waterford will not turn business away in the interim. This is a growing economy. One third of the population is in Dublin and the volume of traffic will increase. That is why we are investing £120 million in a new port access tunnel from Whitehall, details of which are being finalised. Nobody can wave a magic wand. An assessment has been carried out and there is significant European Union and domestic funding that we are willing to commit to projects such as the port access tunnel, road building, the light rail system, extension of the DART, strategic bus corridors, better access for pedestrians, cycle lanes and making it more difficult for traffic to choke the city by making public transport more accessible. This cannot be done overnight but we are committed to achieving it as soon as possible.
When does the Minister expect the director of traffic will be appointed? We welcomed the announcement made some weeks ago.
I hope he will not be driving.
I understand a consultancy study of the work and how it should be done will be carried out. If the director looks out the window he or she will see what needs to be done. When will the director be appointed? The Minister's colleague made an announcement on light rail today. We will have a wonderful city in five years but in the meantime life will come to a halt unless something is done about the traffic.
My intention is to fill the post in the first half of next year. The consultancy study will set down the exact working arrangement. The person will work alongside Dublin City Council——
Is the Minister sidelining the issue?
There will be an extra 3,000 heavy trucks.
I want to achieve an effective implementation process. We have come a long way in 12 months — the transportation office is up and running, the chairman of the steering committee has been appointed and I have sought nominations from the local authorities and others in relation to the monitoring committee. I agree that we would like something to happen instantly but we cannot achieve that. We have the resources to implement the various proposals and will do so as quickly as possible. I do not have a closed mind on banning certain categories of traffic at specified times.
I am glad to hear the Minister say that. A competent body stated recently that there is more pollution as a result of bad transport policies than there is from cars. Does the Minister accept there is a strong argument for banning certain categories of through traffic from the city centre and from suburban estates rather than putting resources into dealing with the matter when the damage has been done?
Sometimes one has to argue different points of view depending on the question. There are questions on the devolvement of powers to local authorities and I am sure I will be asked if I intend to allow local authorities to make decisions. They have the power, in consultation with the Commissioner, to prohibit access to streets, if they so determine. It is a matter for them to decide. Is it more appropriate for the Minister to make the decision or should it be left to the local elected representatives? The local authorities have power to do this under the Road Traffic Act and that is the preferable way to deal with the matter.
The Minister referred to light rail. Does he accept that there is an imbalance in phase one and that it does not do anything for the northside of the city? There will not be any facility to offload people from the inner city to the northside of the city. Will the Minister condemn phase one as it is unsatisfactory? The DART runs to Howth. The light rail system must take the needs of the city into account. Why does phase one not have one arm to the north and one to the south instead of two arms to the south? As regards the director of traffic, are there experts in his party on this and could the making of such an appointment pose a problem?
I am not responsible for light rail as it is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications. The Government approved phase one and I take collective responsibilty for the announcement. It is remarkably similar to the decision made by the previous Government.
Does that make it the right one?
I share Deputy Timmins's concern at the traffic chaos in the city centre. Will the Minister give an undertaking that in six months he will be able to state clearly things have improved?
I have many talents but prophecy is not one of them.
That is the quote of the week.