Vol. 399 No. 1
47 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps so that when the main road through the Phoenix Park is closed off for any reason, notices will be placed on the Castleknock and other gates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
48 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the continuing traffic problems at Mountjoy Cross in the Phoenix Park, he will consider the construction of a roundabout there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
49 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance, in view off the blatant disregard of the 30 miles per hour speed limit in the Phoenix Park, he will increase the limit to 40 miles per hour, which is more practical; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 47, 48 and 49 together.
The Phoenix Park Management Plan, launched in 1986, identified traffic as being the major constraint to the management of the property as a national historic park and set up measures to reduce the impact of the vehicles on the amenity values of the park. Of these measures the following have been achieved to date: closure of some minor roadways to through traffic in order to reduce the number of junctions to the main road and to bring land masses together for the enjoyment of the public; closure of White's Gate during morning peak hours; delineation of the main road — including the narrowing of the carriageway width; reduction of speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph; restoration of the gas lighting system on the main road; and relocation of the Phoenix Monument to centre of the main road.
When permission is granted to any organisation to run an event which involves road closure the Office of Public Works insist that the organisation erect notices at the gates to inform the public of traffic restrictions. One of these organisations omitted to erect such signs on a number of occasions recently. The matter has been taken up with them to ensure it does not happen again.
The present road improvement schemes outside the park will, when completed, offer alternative routes to commuters and the Office of Public Works' traffic management strategy for the park will take theses factors into account. In the meantime, traffic on the main avenue will be kept under review but I would not foresee any further major changes, such as a roundabout at Mountjoy Cross, until the commissioners have had time to fully assess how the new arrangement at the Phoenix Cross works.
It would be incongruous to have a higher speed limit on the main avenue of a national historic park than pertaining on the main roads at each end. A mobile park ranger force will be established this year and one of their main tasks will be to prevent speeding in the park.
