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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Traffic Management.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

39 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has for additional measures to deal with Dublin's chronic traffic problems; the progress, if any, made to date in implementing the Dublin traffic action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14371/99]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

185 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give a breakdown of the £162 million allocation to ease traffic in the short-term in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14219/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 185 together.

The DTI strategy, which was published in 1995 with a planning horizon to 2011, provides the framework for a wide range of initiatives to respond to Dublin's transportation needs. These include major infrastructure projects such as LUAS, the Dublin Port Tunnel and completion of the Dublin C-Ring; other improvements in public transport such as quality bus corridors; and traffic and parking management measures. Progress with the construction and planning of these infrastructural projects is indicated in current work being undertaken on the DART extensions and the Southern Cross motorway, and ministerial approvals to the Tallaght/Abbey Street link of the LUAS and to the south-eastern and northern motorways.

The DTO Short-Term Action Plan, published last September, is designed to advance and accelerate a set of measures, consistent with the DTI strategy, which can be completed in the period to end 2000. Detailed objectives include: completion of 12 QBCs and 180 kms of cycle tracks by end 2000; provision by end 1999 of an additional 150 buses by Dublin Bus; additional rolling stock for DART; lengthening of outer suburban and key DART station platforms, and upgrading by end 2000 of the Maynooth-Clonsilla rail line. It is estimated that expenditure totalling £160 million, detailed in a tabular statement, will be undertaken within the framework of the plan.

Good progress is being made with implementation of the Short-Term Action Plan. For example, orders have been placed for the new buses with delivery of the first batch expected to be completed by end June; work is proceeding on the planning, design and implementation of the QBC network; the programme of platform lengthening has commenced; and contracts have been entered into for the additional DART rolling stock.
Since the publication of the Short-Term Action Plan, the Minister for Finance has also announced: the removal of Benefit in Kind taxation from public transport passes provided by employers for their employees; tax incentives to promote park and ride facilities, and a review of the potential for benefit in kind taxation of workplace parking.
For the longer-term, the DTO are currently updating the original DTI strategy; this will lead to the publication by end 1999 of an updated strategy for the period 2000-16. An investment programme will be finalised by DTO shortly to assist the preparation of the new national development plan.
Table
DTO Short-Term Action Plan Estimated Expenditure

Measures

Estimated Expenditure

£m

QBCs

16

Cycling

13

Traffic Management

14

Park and Ride

2

New Roads Associated with Traffic Management

32

New Buses

26

Suburban Rail (incl. DART)

57

Total

160

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