Vol. 522 No. 4
40 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the incentives he has considered to encourage people not to drive their cars into the capital city in order to help reduce traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18568/00]
50 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when it is expected to complete the upgrading of the transportation for the greater Dublin area, under the auspices of the Dublin Transportation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18655/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 50 together.
The Dublin Transportation Initiative 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 infrastructure 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 infrastructure projects is indicated in current work being undertaken on the southern cross and northern motorways, and ministerial approvals to the Tallaght to Abbey Street and Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green links of the Luas, the Dublin Port tunnel and the south eastern motorway.
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 Dublin Transportation Office 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 quality bus corridor 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 to 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.
