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Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Questions (365)

Duncan Smith

Question:

365. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the protocols put in place for Ireland’s ports to deal with knock on affects from Brexit; the protocols put in place for Irish roads linking or close to depots and sorting centres here to ensure regular traffic is not adversely impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1393/21]

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Written answers

Since 2018, detailed work has been underway across Government, led by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, to invest in the infrastructure, systems, and staffing required for additional checks and controls for trade with Great Britain at Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort and Dublin Airport. The State Agencies - Revenue, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, and the HSE have each put protocols in place to manage the operation of the checks and controls. Likewise they have worked together to harmonise their approaches to the extent possible and to ensure minimal disruption to the port operations.  I am aware that the agencies are continuing to monitor, assess and where feasible enhance the systems and procedures in place. 

In light of the potential for Brexit-related traffic congestion at the Port to impact on adjacent roads, the Port Tunnel, and the motorway system, a Traffic Management Group, chaired by my Department and including representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Dublin City Council, An Garda Siochána, OPW, Revenue Commissioners and Dublin Port Company was established. The Groups’ remit was to consider and put in place contingency plans for the potential knock-on impacts on city traffic management in advance of the original Brexit deadline of 29 March 2019.

This Traffic Management Group developed a contingency plan which defined the roles and actions of the various agencies and the associated communications plan operational plan.  Following that, and prior to the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020, the plan was updated to take into account developments that occurred in the intervening period. Details of the Plan were published on Gov.ie in December 2020.

Since 31 December 2020, traffic levels in the Port and on the adjacent road network have been lower than anticipated and there has been no requirement to activate the Traffic Management Plan. The traffic levels, including through the Port Tunnel, are being actively monitored by Dublin City Council, Dublin Port Company and Transport Infrastructure Ireland as part of the Traffic Management Group. This ongoing and coordinated monitoring provides the information necessary to the Traffic Management Group to trigger implementation of a phased traffic management response, if required.

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