Vol. 513 No. 1
79 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has concluded the study of road pricing in Dublin which was promised in October 1999; the action, if any, he will take arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1592/00]
In the context of the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework 1994-99, it was agreed at the request of the European Commission that a study of road pricing and related issues should be carried out with reference to the Dublin area. This study, which was conducted by a consortium of consultants led by the Oscar Faber Group, was published on 5 October 1999. A copy of the report of the study is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The main objectives of the study were to consider progress to date in implementing the non-infrastructure measures proposed in the final report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative; to overview the application of economic instruments, in particular those related to road pricing, in the context of other comparable cities; and assess the advantages and disadvantages of using economic and other non-infrastructure policies, in particular road pricing, in the management of traffic in Dublin.
The study is a preliminary review of the potential for introducing new transport demand management measures in Dublin. The consultants conclude that road pricing could have a role to play in transport policy for Dublin. However, they also consider the issue requires more detailed consideration in the context of an integrated approach to Dublin's transport requirements and that any future pricing initiative is likely to require balancing by a range of other measures.
The Dublin Transportation Office has been asked to consider the study, in the context of the wider update of the DTI strategy now being finalised by it, and as an initial step has invited public comments and submissions in relation to it.
Will the Minister confirm that the report to which he refers recommended there should be a charge of £3 per vehicle for vehicles entering the city centre cordon bounded by the two canals? Is the Minister considering the introduction of such a charge? Has he accepted that recommendation in principle? Is the further study now under way concerned with the method of implementing such a charge and its practicalities?
As I told the Deputy in the original reply, the report has been sent to the body that has been given responsibility for the Dublin Transportation Initiative, the DTO. It was sent without any comment one way or the other but it was important that the report should be considered by the DTO in conjunction with its review of the DTI. The DTO discussed road pricing; congestion pricing, which would vary charges according to traffic conditions in an area at a particular time; time-based pricing, the charge for which would be proportional to the time spent travelling within a specified area; and the cordon pricing Deputy Gilmore mentioned, which would involve charges applied at points—
I must remind the House that supplementary questions and answers cannot exceed one minute in the time for ordinary questions, and one minute has expired in the case of this question.
The sooner that rule is changed, the better. I know you have no control over it, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Minister has received a report and has asked the DTO to submit its views by way of another report. Has he put a timeframe on the DTO reporting back to him on the subject of road pricing in Dublin?
I received the report and I gave it to the DTO, which is the body responsible for traffic management in Dublin. It is up to the DTO to feed this into the report it is compiling in relation to the view of the Dublin Transportation Initiative. It was the European Union that sought this in the first place and obviously it would have a copy.
So it is open-ended?
No, March is the deadline.
I appreciate the Minister has asked the DTO to report again and to consult. Does he have any policy, or even a general view, as Minister for the Environment and Local Government, on the principle of road pricing? Would he, as a matter of principle, consider congestion, time or length of journey pricing, or the specific recommendation I mentioned, namely, the introduction of a charge for entering a city centre cordon? Is he ruling out any of those options? It is unfair to ask the DTO to examine this matter in a vacuum without any general Government guidance on it? What is the Minister's general view of this? This is obviously an important matter and could make a major contribution to the traffic problem in Dublin.
There is no doubt that, in a proper context, it could make a contribution to traffic management in Dublin but, in fairness, it would be wrong of me to refer a report like this to a body such as the DTO, which is responsible for making recommendations and decisions on this matter, and give it a guideline on it beforehand. The DTO is examining the overall picture, including the traffic management measures that need to be taken, the provision of park and ride facilities, improved traffic management and so on. It is examining this matter in its totality; this is merely one element of it. Until the DTO reports to me, it would not be fair for me to indicate one way or the other. In general terms, once I have studied it I will support any report given to me by the DTO.
We have gone well over the six minutes. Ceist a hochtó in ainm an Teachta David Stanton.
This is not a priority question.
On a point of order—
There is still a limit.
I do not think so. May I ask briefly—
No, because Deputy Gormley asked before you.
Just very briefly—
Could I ask the Minister—
This is Question No. 79 which was due to conclude in six minutes, and the six minutes has long since expired. In fact we have gone two minutes over time. Ceist a hochtó in ainm an Teachta Stanton.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, you did call me and I indicated before—
I did not call you. I did not call any Member. Please, an tAire.
You did. I was on my feet.
The Chair is obliged to implement Standing Orders. If the Members are dissatisfied with Standing Orders, they should arrange to have them changed.
I am very dissatisfied.
We have spent eight minutes on this question.
Can I make a point of order?
You can make a point of order as long as it is a point of order.
It is a point of order.
I would have asked the question by now.
I was elected to this House but it seems I will not get an opportunity to ask any questions. I am excluded from priority questions. I indicated my wish to contribute in time, before Deputy Hayes. I was not called. I can sit through an entire Question Time without being allowed to put a question, as a Green Party Member, to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. If that is parliamentary democracy, you can throw your hat at it.
