Vol. 513 No. 1
79 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has concluded the study of road pricing in Dublin which was promised in October 1999; the action, if any, he will take arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1592/00]
In the context of the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework 1994-99, it was agreed at the request of the European Commission that a study of road pricing and related issues should be carried out with reference to the Dublin area. This study, which was conducted by a consortium of consultants led by Oscar Faber Group was published on 5 October 1999. A copy of the report on the study is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The main objectives of the study were to consider progress to date in implementing the non-infrastructure measures proposed in the final report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative; overview the application of economic instruments, in particular those related to road pricing, in the context of other comparable cities; and assess the advantages and disadvantages of using economic and other non-infrastructure policies, in particular road pricing, in the management of traffic in Dublin.
The study is a preliminary review of the potential for introducing new transport demand management measures in Dublin. The consultants conclude that road pricing could have a role to play in transport policy for Dublin; however, they also consider that the issue requires more detailed consideration in the context of an integrated approach to Dublin's transport requirements and that any future pricing initiative is likely to require balancing by a range of other measures.
The Dublin Transportation Office has been asked to consider the study, in the context of the wider update of the DTI strategy now being finalised by it, and as an initial step has invited public comments and submissions in relation to it.
