Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he will intercede with Kildare County Council with a view to addressing the serious traffic problems that exist in Celbridge, County Kildare (details supplied); if these matters will be addressed with maximum urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43350/20]
View answerEach local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of public roads, in conjunction with TII in the case of national roads, under the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 and for the implementation of traffic management measures under Road Traffic legislation.
As regards broader policy decisions the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure and services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the making of a transport strategy for the region is a core function of the NTA.
The Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, which was adopted in 2016, sets out a statutory framework for transport investment across the region over a 20 year period and provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for the GDA.
I very much welcome the development of evidence-led transport strategies for the major cities. We need to ensure a holistic, multi-modal approach toward transport planning and provision and, importantly, we need to see finalised transport strategies integrated into relevant land-use plans and acting as a catalyst for the adoption by local authorities of a much more sustainable approach toward the location of housing, employment and other centres of transport demand.
Transport infrastructure planning is by its nature long-term and that is why the Strategy has a twenty year horizon. However, obviously strategies need to be reviewed and updated from time-to-time in order to ensure their continuing validity.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the Strategy must be reviewed every six years. I am informed that the NTA has commenced that work already with a view to launching a public consultation next year.
In reviewing the Strategy the NTA will consider issues such as expanding DART services to operate on the Kildare line, which will help to tackle congestion problems that exist in the County.
