Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 3

Written Answers. - Public Transport.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

61 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has to develop public transport in a way to alleviate the traffic congestion in Dublin city and its suburbs, to provide an efficient inter-city rail and road service and to provide a socially desirable service to remote areas; if she has costed the provision of these services; the way in which she will finance this development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22670/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

134 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise whether she has given a policy directive to the relevant transport authorities with regard to the need for the development of alternative transport systems in view of overcrowding on the roads; the number of passengers likely to benefit from any directive or instruction on a daily basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22876/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Question Nos. 61 and 134 together.

Under the Transport Acts, the question of assessing and meeting demand for public transport services is a matter for Córas Iompair Éireann and its operating subsidiaries.

Due to our unprecedented economic growth traffic has grown more rapidly than was anticipated particularly in urban areas. This has had a significant impact on the circumstances in which the CIE group provides its services. I am advised that the CIE companies have had extensive consultations with relevant authorities in relation to measures necessary to alleviate difficulties associated with this problem.

In relation to the development of public transport in the Greater Dublin area, I wish to refer the Deputies to my reply to Questions Nos. 40, 72, 75 and 86 given earlier today. At my request, CIE prepared a number of public transport investment reviews, covering all their main areas of activity, mainline rail, Dublin suburban rail, bus, provincial cities and rail freight. These were submitted to my Department at various times over the past year or so.

All of these reviews were taken into account in the initial submission made by my Department to the Department of Finance in June 1998 in the context of EU funding requirements post 1999.