Vol. 513 No. 1
126 Mr. McDowell 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. [1583/00]
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, the Dublin Port Tunnel and the south-eastern and northern motorways. By end-1999, an estimated £500 million had been invested in Dublin transport management and infrastructure within the DTI framework. Under the national development plan, which endorses most of the investment proposed in the Dublin Transportation Blueprint 2000-06 published by the DTO in September 1999, more than £3 billion is provided to continue DTI related funding through the period 2000-06.
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.
