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Public Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 April 2007

Tuesday, 3 April 2007

Questions (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

74 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport the measures he proposes to increase the use of public transport by all public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12696/07]

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Written answers

The range of measures that my Department funds through the Transport 21 Programme for the improvement of the transport infrastructure and the prioritisation of public transport apply to public service employees equally as to the general public alike.

A key recommendation of the Travel Demand Management Study that was produced in 2004 by the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO), which is an agency of my Department, was that employers should introduce measures to encourage more staff to travel to work by alternative means to the car. The study recommended that such measures should be introduced in the first instance in large public sector organisations in the Greater Dublin Area. The DTO has recently introduced a Workplace Travel Plan for DTO staff.

The DTO intends to launch a sustainable transport public awareness campaign for the Greater Dublin Area in June 2007. One of the areas it will focus on is encouraging employers, particularly those in the public sector, to introduce Workplace Travel Plans that provide employees with sustainable travel information and incentives to drive less and consider car sharing, cycling, walking and public transport options. My own Department is committed to supporting and participating in this campaign.

There are already a number of provisions in place designed to facilitate and encourage the use of public transport, including its greater use by public service employees.

The Annual Travel Pass Tax Saver Scheme is extensively promoted across the public service and has a high level of take-up among public service employees. There has been a substantial increase in the sale of annual and monthly commuter tickets in recent years. Much of the growth can be attributed to the tax savings accruing to those who commit to purchasing annual tickets under the Tax Saver scheme, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. In 2006, for example, Dublin Bus had 1,700 employers, including employers across the Public Service, actively purchasing monthly and annual tickets directly from Dublin Bus for their employees.

John Perry

Question:

75 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Transport when the DTA will be formally established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/07]

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Richard Bruton

Question:

81 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the legislation to establish the DTA will be published; the preparatory work conducted by its new chairperson; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12684/07]

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Joan Burton

Question:

98 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport the way he will ensure that the proposed Dublin Transport Authority is fully accountable; and when he will publish legislation. [12675/07]

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Eamon Ryan

Question:

140 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport when the Dublin Transportation Authority will be established; when the necessary legislative changes will be in place to allow the authority to function; when new staff for the agency will be appointed; and the functions the authority will have from its inception. [12711/07]

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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 81, 98 and 140.

I refer to my reply to Priority Question No. 50 of today. Substantial progress has been made in preparing the legislation and it remains my intention to publish the Dublin Transport Authority Bill very shortly. The establishment of the Authority will ensure the full and effective delivery of an integrated transport system in the Greater Dublin Area under Transport 21.

In anticipation of the publication of the legislation and to commence the process of putting the necessary organisational arrangements in place, I recently appointed Mr. Tom Mulcahy as chairman designate of the Authority.

Pending the establishment of the Authority on a statutory basis I have asked Mr. Mulcahy, in his capacity as chairman designate, to give initial consideration to the management and organisational structure and to human resource and financial requirements of the proposed Authority and to engage with the key stakeholders and other interested parties as part of the preparatory process leading to the establishment of the Authority and its early discharge of its statutory functions.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

76 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the supports provided by his Department, as part of its disability sectoral plan in relation to the provision of transport services for persons for whom existing public transport services are inaccessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/07]

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Denis Naughten

Question:

156 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the pace of the roll-out of fully accessible public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12709/07]

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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 156 together.

‘Transport Access for All', my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, along with those of five other Departments, was approved by the Oireachtas in Autumn 2006. The Department of Transport Plan addresses the accessibility needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments across all transport modes and contains time bound targets for the progressive realisation of accessible transport in Ireland. In general, the delivery of the various elements of the Plan is aligned with the timeframe of Transport 21, the Government's 10-year transport investment programme launched in November 2005. The Plan includes robust monitoring arrangements to ensure timely delivery of its targets and objectives.

Significant resources for accessibility are being provided under Transport 21 and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to facilitate further progress. Accessibility is being built into new public transport infrastructure projects and funding is also being provided to continue the phased retrofit of existing infrastructure. I am satisfied that progress to date is in accordance with the Plan.

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