Vol. 555 No. 3
68 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has in the short to medium term under the national development plan to address traffic congestion in Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18473/02]
Within the framework of the national development plan a wide range of initiatives have been taken to upgrade Dublin's transport infrastructure and services. These include major investment in the upgrading of the national road network. In the Dublin city and county areas alone, major road projects to a total value of approximately €1.4 billion are currently under construction. Major road projects critical to managing Dublin transport include: the Dublin Port tunnel, which will significantly reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles using the city centre; the south-eastern motorway, which forms the final part of the C-ring; the construction of a second bridge at the West Link, designed to alleviate congestion at this pressure point on the motorway, is also under way; and the Cloghran-Balbriggan section of the M1 northern motorway.
Projects under way on the N11 – Glen of the Downs and Rathnew-Ashford bypasses – and N7 – Kildare bypass – will also assist in improving traffic flow in the Dublin area. These major improvements are vital for improved road capacity and they will substantially complete the major road network around the city area.
The national development plan also provides for investment of more than €3 billion in public transport and traffic management in the period to 2006. Of this, approximately €2 billion will be investment in the greater Dublin area. Since 1997, demonstrable improvements in public transport arrangements and services have been implemented: the Dublin Bus fleet has been expanded significantly through the purchase of more than 600 new buses; Bus Éireann has purchased 74 new buses to upgrade long distance commuter services in the greater Dublin area; there are now nine QBCs in place in Dublin and work is continuing on further routes; 160 kilometres of dedicated cycleways have been provided; traffic management and control systems have been upgraded; taxi numbers have increased significantly; major capacity improvements have been made to rail services including platform lengthening, the provision of additional DART and diesel rail cars, extension of the DART service to Greystones and Malahide and the completion of the Maynooth-Clonsilla rail line upgrade, and progress has been made on developing the new Luas system.
Starting next month, Irish Rail will begin accepting delivery of 80 new diesel rail cars to further expand capacity on the outer suburban network around Dublin and Cork. Capacity improvements will flow from the improved signalling and track work on the approaches to Heuston Station, the provision of additional platforms, the allocation of additional rail cars and increasing train lengths during rush hour periods. Further DART capacity improvements are planned through re-signalling work at Connolly Station, the lengthening of platforms on the DART line to accommodate eight-car DARTs, upgrading the overhead power supply to accommodate the longer trains and the purchase of a further 40 DART cars.
Additional informationFunds are also being provided for the development of an integrated ticketing system for Dublin by 2005 as well as a real time passenger information system. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to discuss with CIE more innovative fare structures to facilitate transfer between bus and rail services using existing technologies.
The measures implemented to date and the completion of the major projects in construction and planning will have a major beneficial impact on traffic flows in Dublin. The investment in public transport is providing a viable alternative to the private car for many commuters. The quality and quantity of public transport will continue to improve with the advent of Luas and the further rail and bus investment and service improvements I have outlined.
More remains to be done. 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, GDA, in the period to 2016. It is providing the framework for the future development of Dublin's transport network. The Government has already formally approved the procurement process for a metro in Dublin.
This Government has been pro-active in responding to the challenge of traffic congestion and has demonstrated its commitment to transforming our transport infrastructure by providing unprecedented levels of investment since 1997. The establishment of an integrated Department of Transport will bring a renewed focus to our efforts to upgrade transport infrastructure and services in Dublin and throughout the country.
In his comprehensive reply, the Minister did not refer to the Dublin metro. Perhaps such a reference was made at the end of his reply and will only appear in the Official Report. The Dublin metro is obviously not at the top of his list of priorities. Given that the consultants' report has indicated that it will cost €20 billion and ten years to complete the Dublin metro, will the Government shelve the proposal and consider more feasible alternatives such as a heavy rail link to Dublin Airport or the opening of the Phoenix Park tunnel? I accept that Irish Rail is considering the long-term potential of the Phoenix Park tunnel, but what is the short-term alternative? Would it not be feasible to put in place a shuttle service between Heuston Station and Connolly Station which could relieve traffic on the quays?
The Deputy is correct that reference to the Dublin metro is contained at the end of my initial reply.
At the end. It is a long way down the list.
The Government has already approved the procurement process for a metro in Dublin. Approval has been given to proceed with planning of the system. It is no secret that funding has not been allocated for this project, which is still at the planning stage.
The tunnel from Heuston to Connolly is one of a number of options being considered. The Deputy will agree that it is important that we should integrate the public transport system in the capital. If it was possible, both technically and financially, to proceed with the tunnel, I would be in favour of it.
The Minister also referred to the Dublin Port tunnel. What action has he taken to date to ensure that the height of the tunnel will be increased, in light of the fact—
I would prefer it if the Deputy did not enter into too much detail as he is anticipating the next question on the Order Paper.
Yes, but the Minister stated that the Dublin Port tunnel is a major element of the initiative to address traffic congestion in Dublin city. Given that 10% of vehicles – 53,000 – per annum will not be able to use the Dublin Port tunnel and will be forced to travel through the city centre, what does the Minister propose to do other than implementing the Taoiseach's proposal to ban these trucks from the city centre?
The Deputy is again anticipating the next question on the Order Paper. The Minister should note that the Deputy's supplementary is more relevant to Question No. 69.
With respect, my initial question referred to plans to address traffic congestion in Dublin city centre. The Minister stated that one of the key elements in those plans is the Dublin Port tunnel, which will remove heavy goods vehicles from the city centre. What does he plan to do about the 10% of such vehicles which will not be able to use the tunnel, particularly given that a second ferry capable of carrying such vehicles is about to come on stream?
A brief final reply from the Minister.
I am not sure what to do. The Deputy's supplementary is proper to the next question but I would be happy to deal with it if I am permitted to do so.
The Dublin Port Company undertook a survey of all trucks exiting the port in June and July of this year which indicated that 98% of all trucks were less than 4.6 metres in height. The height restriction which applies to the tunnel, which has a clearance height of 4.9 metres, is 4.6 metres. It is higher than most European tunnels where height limits apply and it fully complies with an EU directive which requires that tunnels must be able to accommodate heavy goods vehicles up to four metres in height. Given that the tunnel will be able to cater for 98% of trucks and will operate well within the EU limit, I am satisfied that the issue has been dealt with.
