Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Dublin Traffic Management.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

97 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take to deal with the continuing chronic transport and traffic problems in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18714/99]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

108 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the disruption caused when Departments and transport agencies make recommendations in relation to traffic management and where local authorities put these recommendations in place, such as quality bus corridors, even though the relevant service provider does not seem to be in a position to supply the additional transport vehicles to ensure a smooth transition of use of these corridors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18766/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 108 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 and Sandyford-St. Stephen's Green links of the LUAS and to the south-eastern and northern motorways.

The DTO Short-Term Action Plan, published in September 1998, 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 at a cost of £26 million, 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.

Good progress is being made with implementation of the short-term action plan. For example, the programme of platform lengthening has commenced; contracts have been entered into for the additional DART rolling stock; work is proceeding on the planning, design and implementation of the QBC network with three QBCs now in operation; and 105 of the new buses have already been delivered, 84 of which are in service. Moreover, the increased bus capacity now available is enabling the provision of significantly enhanced bus services along the three QBC routes; this capacity will be further augmented as more buses become available in the coming months.

I would point out that the development of quality bus corridors is an important element within the framework of the DTI Strategy and the DTO Short-Term Action Plan. Three QBCs have already been completed and results from the Lucan and Malahide QBCs, which have been in operation for some time now indicate an overall increase in total person trips, a considerable reduction in bus journey times, and an increase in bus passengers of between 15 per cent and 20 per cent on the routes.

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.

I recently published guidelines on the development of park and ride facilities setting out criteria and requirements in order for developers to avail of the tax incentives provided in the Finance Act, 1999.

A Dublin Transportation Blueprint 2000-2006 has recently been published by DTO to assist the preparation of the new National Development Plan: this proposes a range of investment in the Dublin area to a cost of more than £2 billion over the period 2000-2006. 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 2000-2016.