Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 3

Written Answers. - Dublin Traffic Management.

Ivor Callely

Question:

50 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the surveys and research carried out recently to establish the reason and uses of traffic coming into the city; the measures, if any, which will be taken to reduce traffic gridlock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1448/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 50 together.

The DTI strategy, which was published in 1995 with a planning horizon to 2011, provides the framework for a wide range of initiatives to respond to Dublin's transportation needs. These include major infrastructural projects such as Luas, the Dublin port tunnel and completion of the Dublin C-ring; other improvements in public transport such as quality bus corridors; and traffic and parking management measures.

Progress with the construction and planning of these infrastructural projects is indicated in current work being undertaken on the DART extensions and the southern cross motorway, and ministerial approvals to the Tallaght-Abbey Street and Sandyford-St. Stephen's Green links of the Luas, the Dublin port tunnel and the south eastern and northern motorways. By end-1999, an estimated £500 million had been invested in Dublin transport management and infrastructure within the DTI framework. Under the national development plan, more than £3 billion is provided to continue DTI related funding through the period 2000-06.

Good progress is being made with implementation of the DTO short-term action plan which is designed to advance and accelerate a set of measures, consistent with the DTI strategy, which can be completed in the period to end 2000. For example, all 150 of the planned new buses have been delivered; work is proceeding on the planning, design and implementation of the QBC network with three QBCs now in operation; the programme of platform lengthening is well under way; delivery of the additional DART rolling stock and railcars has commenced; and the upgrading of the Maynooth-Clonsilla rail line is due for completion by end 2000.

In addition, the office of director of traffic, Dublin Corporation, has been established to bring greater concentration and efficiency to traffic administration within the city and has already achieved significant improvements in parking enforcement and traffic engineering.

For the longer term, the DTO is now finalising an update to the original DTI strategy, taking account of the strategic planning guidelines published in 1999 and of a planning horizon to 2016. This work is underpinned by extensive research, including origin and destination studies, undertaken by the DTO and its constituent bodies.