Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Traffic Management.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

101 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport the organisational system that will be put in place for the hosting of the Velo City cycling conference in Dublin in June 2005; if the State will be able to support such an event; if the Dublin Port tunnel will be in operation prior to that date; and if there will be a significant revision of the traffic management system in Dublin city centre following the opening of the port tunnel. [23146/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

The Velo City cycling conference will be jointly hosted by the Dublin Transportation Office with Dublin City Council. Both of these agencies have hosted international technical conferences in the recent past to a high professional standard. The conference will be supported by the State through organisations such as the Dublin Transportation Office and Dublin City Council.

With regard to the Dublin Port tunnel, I am informed by the NRA that while it is expected that the physical construction of the tunnel will be completed before June 2005, commissioning and testing of the extensive safety systems within the tunnel over a number of weeks is likely to be ongoing at that stage and, accordingly, it is not anticipated that the tunnel will be open to traffic by that date.

The preparation of a traffic management plan following the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel is a matter for the road authority concerned, namely, Dublin City Council. I understand from Dublin City Council that its heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, management strategy will have three objectives – to ensure the optimal use by HGVs of the port tunnel, to minimise adverse effects of remaining HGV movements in the city and managing the movement of vehicles not within permitted dimensions, for example, through permit systems.

I understand that Dublin City Council will undertake widespread consultation before implementing any HGV management strategy. I am informed that the current position in relation to the development of the HGV management strategy is that Dublin City Council intends to issue a preliminary consultation document identifying the issues involved in the near future.

Damien English

Question:

102 Mr. English asked the Minister for Transport the date of his last meeting with the DTO; the agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23050/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I met with the DTO on 24 September 2003. During the course of this meeting, I discussed with the board my views on the development of public transport in Ireland and also the various projects which the DTO is involved with, for example, QBCs and metro traffic management. The DTO gave me a progress report on these and other transport related issues.

Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 74.