Vol. 536 No. 5
338 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 428 of 15 May 2001, an impact survey has been carried out of the traffic problems that Stadium Ireland will bring to the immediate area in Abbotstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14906/01]
I would refer the Deputy to the feasibility study, A Stadium for the New Century, which was placed in the Oireachtas Library in January 2000. The study provides an analysis of the transportation methods likely to be used to access the site on event days and presents estimates with regard to the number of spectators, which will access the stadium by car, coach, shuttle bus and rail. In addition, the feasibility study highlights infrastructural improvements required to facilitate access to the stadium. The study highlights a number of projects proposed in the draft Fingal county development plan, 1998, which will upgrade the transportation infrastructure in the vicinity of the site and facilitate access to the stadium. The study also suggests additional infrastructural improvements proposed to meet the specific transportation requirements of the stadium.
Finally, the study suggests traffic management measures, which would be required on event days. It was recommended that these measures be developed further at the detailed design stage. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, is doing this.
The architectural framework and environmental plan for the Abbotstown site, launched on 23 February last, outlines a logical and coherent approach to the development of the site. As part of this plan, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited is developing a transport strategy as part of the planning scheme that is being prepared. A full environmental impact statement, which will include a detailed analysis of the potential impact of the development of Sports Campus Ireland on the immediate area, will be conducted, which will include a transport study, and will be submitted to Fingal County Council at the relevant time.
The Government is determined to ensure that an adequate transport infrastructure is provided in the area and has established a specialist high level group to look at the public transport needs of the campus in terms of; metro link from Dublin Airport and the city centre, which is already planned as part of the platform for change strategy prepared by the Dublin Transportation Office; developing rail infrastructure on the Maynooth line, which passes close to the complex and can provide access from the west and the city centre; enhancing bus links and quality bus corridors; access to the complex by improving road alignments with the M50.
The investment in improved road and rail links and other transport services to support the Stadium Ireland complex will also be of benefit to the local communities in the vicinity of the complex.
