Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Public Transport.

Mary Upton

Question:

113 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of traffic congestion in Dublin to the business community; the cost to Dublin Bus and to Bus Éireann; his proposals for tackling this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

No precise estimates are readily available of the cost of traffic congestion in Dublin to the business community. The DTO has estimated that the cost of delays to the travelling public is in excess of €2 billion per annum. As regards bus operators, the DTO has estimated that 25% of the operating costs of bus companies in Dublin is attributable to congestion.

The Government has been pro-active in its response to the challenge of traffic congestion in Dublin through unprecedented levels of investment. Within the national development plan, a wide range of initiatives have been taken to upgrade transport infrastructure and services and to reduce congestion.

The Dublin Transportation Office's strategy document, A Platform for Change 2000 – 2016, sets out an integrated transportation strategy for the greater Dublin area for the period up to 2016. The strategy aims to reduce congestion and to increase the modal share of public transport through infrastructure and service improvements and to reduce the growth in travel through the application of land use and other policies and to encourage a transfer of trips, particularly at peak periods, from the private car to sustainable modes of transport.

Much of the improvements envisaged in A Platform for Change are already being implemented. These include the M50, the Dublin port tunnel, quality bus corridors, the introduction of the Luas while proposals regarding the development of a metro are being further advanced by my Department. A major improvement in rail capacity in the greater Dublin area is under way with a doubling of the number of DART cars in service by 2004-05 and a major increase in the capacity of outer suburban rail also.

My Department's Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 sets out a framework for further expanding the capacity and improving the quality of the public transport system in order to reduce congestion further.