Michael Creed
Ceist:11 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to introduce any legislation to restrict the use of private motor vehicles in large urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Traffic Regulation.
The Road Traffic Acts already contain extensive legislative provisions to regulate traffic, including private motor vehicles. I will shortly be introducing a Bill to strengthen and amend these Acts. However, I have no specific plans to introduce legislation to restrict the use of private cars in urban areas.
In relation to the Dublin area, the Dublin Transportation Initiative is at present preparing a final report which will recommend a balanced and integrated transportation strategy. The DTI interim report placed particular emphasis on ensuring a rightful, but not a dominant, place for the car in the urban transport system. Its aim was to encourage car commuters to transfer to public transport where possible, while ensuring that people who needed to use a car for business, shopping and other purposes would continue to be able to do so. Among the proposals in the interim report were the introduction of traffic calming in residential areas, improved parking restraint with particular emphasis on all-day commuter parking and better traffic management and enforcement.
The DTI recommendations are being considered in the context of the National Development Plan. Some of them may be relevant also to other large urban areas. I intend that this aspect will be further considered when the final report is available.
While thanking the Minister for his reply I regret that, in principle, the Minister does not recognise the need at this stage for some form of legislative restriction on the use of private motor vehicles. I recall that in an earlier question the Minister mentioned figures: that in 1988 £80 million was invested in roads and in 1993 the figure was £242 million. My question was tabled specifically on matters arising in larger urban areas, particularly in cities like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and so on. Would the Minister not accept that despite all of that investment traffic flows have worsened, journey durations have become longer, leading to enormous frustration on the part of the motoring public? Would he accept that the time is now ripe for a radical shift in investment away from roads into public transport initiatives based on the necessity to protect the environment and improve the quality of life in inner city areas generally?
The Culliton report, the Moriarity report and, indeed, others I will not now name, have sought consistently greater investment in roads. I should have thought that Deputy Creed, travelling from Glanmire to Cahir, through Portlaoise and Newbridge would himself have recognised how he is able to reach this House much more rapidly because of the investments that have been made.
I wish the Minister would answer the question I asked.
As far as Cork city is concerned, I take it Deputy Creed is not saying that we should not complete the major road improvements and investments there?
It is inner cities.
Would the Minister answer the question I asked?
I did not interrupt the Deputy. There is a major investment being made in roads in and around Cork city and in the searing in Dublin. Nobody is denying that there is traffic congestion. The principle behind by-passes, behind the sea ring, behind developments in Cork city is an endeavour to take heavy vehicular motor traffic out of the city centre which I am as concerned to achieve as is the Deputy, and making very considerable investment to ensure that happens. Of course, consistent with investment in roads has been the growth in traffic, rising at the rate of approximately four per cent per annum, which means that even accelerated expenditure on roads — if followed by and generating new traffic — will mean, as the Deputy rightly said, we will still have considerable congestion. It calls for investment in public transport, pedestrianisation, cycle ways and a variety of different proposals to endeavour to deal with what is — and I am not denying this — a real problem warranting a number of different types of measures all being considered within the context of available resources.
Apart from mentioning a number of measures, may I ask the Minister to take on board some suggestions and give some concrete examples of actual measures targeted specifically at the problem? May I remind the Minister that his reference to a four per cent growth in motorised traffic, if one is to rely on statistical studies, understandably is directly linked to his own policy of belief in the panacea of road construction?
A question, please.
While I appreciate that there is a need to maintain and construct roads, has the Minister tried to implement the DTI restrictions on motorised traffic? I hope he will take into account the fact that when the City Swift service is introduced there will be fewer cars on the road. This transition will have to be made. Does the Minister believe that the proposal to build a snake-like motorway across the country, via Birr, is realistic in view of the fact that motorised traffic causes many problems?
I do not agree with that proposal. It is outrageous that people with engineering qualifications waste their time proposing an alternative route from that already provided at great expense. I will respond to the first part of the question relating to the growth in traffic and I reject the Deputy's assertion. When one considers our population structure, the fact that rural co-operatives and various other industries compete in European markets and that we export 75 per cent of what we produce one can see that the road network forms an important part of our infrastructure. Indeed, many of the heavy trucks are mobile warehouses. Therefore, there is a need for investment in the road network.
I agree with the Deputy's remarks in relation to Dublin and other cities. There is a need to integrate the various proposals which have been put forward following wide consultation with the public. The public will have to accept that there is a need for restraint. I differ from Deputy Creed in regard to the legal aspects. The public must also accept that pollution is caused unnecessarily in parts of our cities and that other options are available. These include greater use of public transport, the provision of cycle lanes and pedestrianisation. We will have to look again at how the various elements will result in a thriving city which will not be choked to death because of pollution caused by unnecessary motorised traffic.
I call Deputy Quill. As I am anxious to get to Deputy McGinley's question, I appeal for brevity.
Will the Minister accept that some of our cities will continue to choke to death until a proper system of public transport is provided in all our cities and that if we are to achieve the objectives implicit in the question we will have to consider how we can regulate traffic? The only way to do this is by upgrading our public transport systems. In this regard major investment is required.
There is no question that public transport is a vital key element. I am equally satisfied that many thousands of people could walk to work, that there is a need to provide cycle lanes and reconsider the way we do our business.