Seán Haughey
Question:324 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures he is taking to deal with serious traffic congestion in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5473/02]
Written Answers. - Traffic Congestion.
Urgent action is being co-ordinated to improve and manage Dublin transport arrangements. This action is intended to bring major benefits in economic terms, in terms of quality of life and in relation to the environment. The Government's national development plan provides for investment of over €2 billion in public transport and traffic management in Dublin in the period to 2006. A further €1.9 billion will be invested in roads in the Dublin region. This represents total investment of almost €4 billion over the life of the NDP. In 2002 alone, approximately €40 million is being provided to the Dublin Transportation Office in respect of traffic management grants, an increase of almost 20% on last year's provision. The Dublin Transportation Office co-ordinates and monitors the implementation of the Dublin transportation initiative strategy. The DTO policy document, "A Platform for Change", sets out a comprehensive integrated strategy to respond to the transportation needs of the greater Dublin area in the period to 2016.
Implementation of the strategy is expected to result in a high quality public transport service being available to most people within ten minutes walking distance of where they live. It will increase the share of the market accounted for by public transport from 35% to 65%, reduce congestion and average journey times dramatically, improve accessibility and result in significant environmental gains including reductions in energy use and emissions to below what they would be otherwise. I am confident the comprehensive measures proposed in the DTI strategy will contribute substantially to the alleviation of traffic congestion in the greater Dublin area, with consequent positive economic effects.
Since 1997, demonstrable improvements in transport arrangements and services have been implemented in Dublin. The Dublin bus fleet has increased, with over 400 new buses having been purchased under the NDP. There was a major expansion of the quality bus corridor network in 2001, with the launch of five new QBCs in the Dublin area serving routes to Blanchardstown, Swords, Tallaght, north Clondalkin and Rathfarnham, together with the extension of the Malahide Road QBC. There are now nine QBCs in place and work is continuing on further routes. Dedicated cycleways have also been extensively provided. In addition, taxi numbers have increased significantly. Improvements have also been made to rail services, including platform lengthening, provision of additional DART and rail cars, extension of the DART service to Greystones and Malahide and the completion of the Maynooth-Clonsilla rail line. Luas works are also progressing. On 16 January, the Government formally approved the procurement process for a metro in Dublin. There are also a number of major road projects, which are critical to managing Dublin transport. The southern cross section of the C-ring was opened to traffic last year and work is continuing on the final part of the C-ring, the south-eastern motorway, and on the Dublin port tunnel, which will significantly reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles using the city centre. Substantial progress is also being maintained on the M1 northern motorway, linking the Airport to the Balbriggan bypass. These major improvements are vital for improved road capacity and they will substantially complete the major road network around the city area. In addition, plans are under way for the expansion of the M50 and free-flow slips have already been provided at the N4, N7 and Ballymount interchanges. The construction of a second bridge at the West-Link is also under way, designed to alleviate congestion at this pressure point on the motorway.
In addition, it is proposed to establish a new land use and transport planning body for the greater Dublin area and work is proceeding on drafting of the heads of a Bill with a view to seeking Government approval of the general scheme early this year. The new body will monitor and enforce compliance with existing and future land use and transport strategies and will drive implementation of such strategies with the benefit of improved institutional arrangements and resources.