The unprecedented level of economic growth which Ireland experienced in recent years has led directly to large increases in population, in the number of households, in the numbers at work and in car ownership levels. Forecasts and projections for economic and employment growth have been exceeded year on year. The benefits of this growth and success are clear in terms of jobs and living standards. Given this growth, it is not sur prising that capacity constraints have emerged in the transport sector.
This Government has responded to these capacity constraints. The Minister of State, Deputy Molloy, outlined last night what has been done and what is in the pipeline, but the message bears repeating. The Government has, since it took office, prioritised the upgrading of our transport infrastructure and services in Dublin and throughout the country. It has vigorously pursued this objective through massively increased investment in the roads network and public transport. It is committed over the NDP period to maintaining transport investment programmes at a high level. The NDP provides for a total investment of more than €12 billion in transport. Good progress has been made in the roll-out of the NDP transport investment programme with total investment amounting to approximately €4 billion in the 2000-2002 period. The impact of this investment is evident around the country and has already been outlined in some detail by the Minister of State, Deputy Molloy.
Improving our transport system, however, is not just about investing in more infrastructure. The Government has also undertaken, as part of an integrated approach, a range of other initiatives to complement the major investment in transport infrastructure. These include: proposals for strengthening institutional arrangements for land use and transport planning in the greater Dublin area; initiatives in relation to the regulatory and structural reform of public transport; support for the development and implementation by local authorities of better traffic management policies and practice, particularly in the Dublin area through the DTO and support for the promotion of the greater use of public transport through, for example, bus priority measures.
Deputy Olivia Mitchell referred in the debate last night to the need for the introduction of bus competition, particularly in Dublin, and Deputy Richard Bruton also raised this issue. The Government has given a great deal of attention to regulatory and structural reform of public transport. We have published two important consultation papers on these issues. The first was published in September 2000 and set out proposals for the restructuring of CIE and the liberalisation of the bus market in the greater Dublin area. Flowing from that reform programme, we have seen the establishment last month of the Railway Procurement Agency and the publication in December of the Railway Safety Bill, which provides for the establishment of an independent Railway Safety Commission. A technical study is currently under way on the restructuring of CIE. We are also engaged in consultations with the social partners through the Public Transport Partnership Forum. The forum commissioned independent research to assist in formulating a response to the Government proposals.
Consultants will finish work before Easter on a review of the regulation of the bus market outside Dublin. I expect the Government will in due course publish its report and invite a public response to its proposals for regulatory reform.
The report of the three wise men on structural reform of Iarnród Éireann was published last July. It presented a challenging agenda for Irish Rail's management and unions and for the Government. All three partners accept this report as the basis for reform from within and are working to progress its implementation as speedily as possible.
The Government also recognises that there is a role for private participation in the delivery of improved public transport. We see public private partnerships playing an important part in the development of infrastructure and services. The Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act provides a modern, flexible and effective legislative basis for rail PPPs. The Railway Procurement Agency has been established as a dedicated agency to procure rail PPPs. A detailed policy framework document for PPPs in the rail sector has also been prepared.
More broadly, it is also important to bear in mind that meeting the transport needs of Dublin and other urban centres requires a shared responsibility and commitment to actions by all the key players including business organisations, transport authorities, councillors and individuals as well as Government. Solving our transport problems, particularly in urban areas, depends not just on actions by public authorities but on communities, business and individuals making sustainable travel choices. For example, traffic congestion in the large urban areas can be reduced by the greater use of public transport. With the major investment now taking place in public transport, the advent of quality bus corridors and the better taxi service now available, public transport is an increasingly attractive alternative to the private car.
I refer to the taxis and hardship matter which was raised by Deputy Michael D. Higgins last night. The Government has decided to approve the appointment of a panel of three independent persons to report on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship which may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders as a direct result of the liberalisation of entry to the taxi industry in November 2000. Persons who held a taxi licence at 21 November 2000 and consider they have suffered extreme personal financial hardship arising from taxi liberalisation are invited to make submissions to the panel. It will be a matter for those making submissions to indicate how they can substantiate their claim of hardship. A two month period for submissions is being allowed following which the panel will report on the nature and extent of hardship. The Minister of State with responsibility for housing and urban renewal will then report back to Government on its findings.
Road works are often blamed for the disruption of traffic flow on our streets and roads to which Deputy John Bruton and others referred. The issue is being addressed by the Government. Powers to control road works by utilities are available under existing legislation, particularly the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and are being used by urban road authorities to regulate the opening of roads by utilities. The Communications Regulations Bill, currently with the Department of Public Enterprise, proposes to modernise legislation on road openings by telecommunications operators. It aims to ensure the regulatory framework which will apply to such operators will afford appropriate and updated powers to roads authorities and regulate road openings in the public interest.
The Minister for the Environment and Local Government is also considering a wider legislative updating to deal with this important issue. A utility and statutory body working group, chaired by the DTO, has been established with the aim of standardising the approach to road works through agreed codes of practice. It comprises representatives from various bodies and agencies currently involved in telecommunications network roll-out, including the ODTR, DTO, the Departments of Public Enterprise and the Environment and Local Government, urban and rural local authorities, IBEC and Eircom. It is clear that efforts are being made to address the issue.
A number of Deputies referred to the need for park and ride facilities. As is clear from the DTI update strategy, it is proposed that such facilities will integrate the car with public transport. There will be park and ride facilities for commuters at strategic locations where the national road network meets the public transport networks. However, it will be essential to assess all proposed park and ride sites to ensure cars accessing them do not add to congestion. Over 2,000 additional park and ride spaces have already been provided at suburban rail stations under the DTI strategy.
Park and ride tax incentives are provided for in the Finance Acts of 1999 and 2001. A person wishing to avail of the capital allowances and reliefs available must make a formal application in writing to the relevant local authority. If the local authority is satisfied that the park and ride facility and associated development, where relevant, conforms with the guidelines and legislation, it may issue a certificate which will enable the developer to avail of the tax incentives. Deputies will be interested to note that the Finance Bill, 2002, provides for an extension of tax incentives until 2004.
Since 1997 significant progress has been made on the alleviation of traffic congestion in Dublin. Over 400 new buses have been purchased under the NDP. The quality bus corridor – QBC – network was substantially extended in 2001 with five new routes serving Blanchardstown, Swords, Tallaght, north Clondalkin and Rathfarnham initiated. The Malahide Road QBC was also extended. Nine QBCs are now in place and work is continuing on further routes. Dedicated cycle-ways are now a familiar sight on Dublin streets and taxi numbers have increased significantly. Improvements have also been made to rail services, including platform lengthening, provision of additional DART and rail cars, extension of the DART to Greystones and Malahide and the completion of the Maynooth-Clonsilla rail line. Work is also continuing on the Luas and on 16 January the Government gave the go-ahead for a procurement process for a metro in Dublin. It is clear that significant progress is being made.
A number of Deputies referred to public-private partnerships – PPPs – which will play an important role in the acceleration and delivery of road infrastructure by harnessing the skills and finance necessary to bring economies and innovation to Irish road design. They will help to build roads on time and to a high standard without eroding necessary Government investment in other essential services. The national roads investment programme, outlined in the NDP, provides for €1.27 billion of private finance through PPPs, which represents 23% of total road investment. This will make possible the most ambitious road programme in the history of the State. The NRA is progressing a number of high quality schemes which are suitable as PPPs. Significant progress has been achieved in the roads PPP programme during 2001. Construction commenced on the second West Link bridge on the M50 in August 2001. Preferred bidders are due to be selected for the M25 Waterford bypass and the M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad motorway this year.
The Government is committed to sustained and co-ordinated action to upgrade our transport infrastructure and services, not just in Dublin and other urban centres, but throughout the country. The task is not easy and will take time, but we have a clear vision of what needs to be done and put in place the policies and funding to achieve it.