Seán Ryan
Ceist:15 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he envisages any extension of the DART system in 1990.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - DART Service.
The Government decided in 1987 that no further consideration should be given to extending the DART system, because of the high costs of such development and the state of the public finances. In the circumstances any further developments in the transport system will fall to be considered in the context of less costly options such as diesel or light rail and bus.
Obviously I would disagree with the Minister and the Government but having said that, I ask the Minister to tell us, given that decision, how he proposes to meet the transport needs of the new growth areas in County Dublin? Would the Minister be willing to authorise CIE or Irish Rail to have the necessary carriages for the rail link constructed at Inchicore?
I am still considering the question of carriages and I will take on board the Deputy's sense of urgency. However, I will have to consider this question in the context of the overall capital allocation for CIE. I share the Deputy's concerns about areas on the west side of the city, such as Clondalkin and Tallaght. As he is aware, CIE have put forward proposals to develop the Clondalkin line. They have already announced the opening of four new stations at Confey, Leixlip; Coolmine; Granard Bridge, Castleknock and Broombridge in Cabra. A number of other proposals have been made by both CIE and other interests. These proposals cover light rail services throughout the city to dedicated busways in particular areas. All of these would require major capital investment. I am trying to come to grips with the extent of the capital commitment required.
Can the Minister give us any idea as to when he will make a decision as to the construction of these carriages at Inchicore? These carriages are needed. A skilled workforce is available. However, some of these are being allowed go. This decision is required to ensure the future of the Inchicore Works and protect employment. It would also have a knock-on effect. Is the Minister in a position to tell us when he will ultimately make that urgent decision?
I cannot give the Deputy a date, but I can tell him as a result of his questioning today it will be made much sooner.
I support Deputy Ryan's contention about the Inchicore Works. Can the Minister tell us if his examination into the extension of the DART system covers the possible provision of a light rail or similar system on the old Harcourt Street line?
It does.
Given that traffic has almost ground to a standstill in the city — the congestion is absolutely incredible — would the Minister not accept in hindsight that the decision taken in 1987 was the wrong one to take and that the only solution to our traffic congestion problems is an extension of the DART? Would he further explain why it is that hundreds of thousands of pounds seem to be available for road building in the city, much of which is taking place against the wishes of communities and the councillors representing the city, and the Government insist on bulldozing their way through Dublin city building massive highways while at the same time claiming that they do not have funding to provide a proper public transportation system?
The investment required to extend the DART would be extremely substantial. As the Deputy is aware, the finances of DART are not very glamorous in the sense that the capital is not recouped, but there are other options which we are looking at very carefully, in particular the light rail option. There might be something in this but work is at a very early stage. The Deputy is right to draw attention to the need to integrate our roads and transport policies. I have made a special effort to work on a daily basis extremely closely with the Department of the Environment to make sure that the public transport system is not developed in a different direction, as it were, from the road infrastructure which must also be developed. However, we must develop both in conjunction with each other. I intend to make sure that both Departments work very closely together.
Let me remind the Minister that the original DART route was to extend from Howth to Greystones. It was constructed as far as Bray and not extended any further. Can the Minister tell us if the extension of the DART system to Greystones, an expanding urban area, is still being considered and can he assure me that this is not being pushed to the backburner?
It is an area which requires proper transport facilities. Unfortunately, I have to tell the Deputy that it is not high on the agenda at present.
A final, and brief, question from Deputy Byrne.
In relation to the light rail option in which I have an interest, can the Minister say if it is envisaged that it will be developed throughout the city competing with or doing away with the need for a bus service on our road network? Secondly can the Minister give us any idea of the potential of a light rail system and is he considering this as a very serious project?
As I said, I have a number of proposals some of which are very glamorous and extensive. I suppose every Minister for Transport has had these on his desk ranging from the extremely glamourous ones to the more practical, covering the routes which need to be handled. I propose to come to grips as quickly as I can with the more practical proposals covering light rail services but I have yet to assess whether it will be possible for me to pursue the light rail option. On the question of whether light rail services would interfere with the bus service, this is the kind of complex issue which all of us have to face. If we progress on one front at the expense of another employment considerations have to be faced and I ask the Deputy to keep this in mind.