I thank members for electing me as Chairman of this important committee. I look forward to working with everyone in a spirit of partnership and co-operation. I am confident we will bring our combined skills and enthusiasm to bear on this highly productive committee and that we will discharge our functions in an efficient and enlightened way.
I welcome the new members of the committee, particularly those newly elected to the Oireachtas. I also pay tribute to former members of the committee who brought their own experiences and knowledge to the work of the last committee. I pay particular tribute to Senator Ellis for his work as Chairman of that committee.
I intend to act in a fair and impartial way and hope the committee will contribute positively towards the progression of transport policy and legislation over the period of this Dáil and Seanad. There are many challenges in the sector. Unprecedented economic growth has caused demand for major development of all aspects of our transport infrastructure. We are all aware of the frustrations experienced by the travelling public because of the inadequacies of our transport options. Therefore, providing safe, efficient and cost effective transport infrastructure is a major challenge that will take time and money. I hope the committee will strive to turn these challenges into opportunities.
We will work in support of the Minister for Transport and his departmental officials and co-operate and assist in the difficult and wide-ranging tasks they have to complete in the implementation of Government policy. Looking around the room, I am sure members will provide critical analysis of specific initiatives either not up to standard or slow in their implementation. Our objective is to make a positive contribution to the improvement of transport infrastructure.
Our top priority should be to improve public transport and move away from the car culture, urgently progressing the roll-out of quality bus and rail transport. Vehicle numbers have risen by 86% or 1 million since 1995, a phenomenal increase. Irrespective of the road construction programme, we cannot continue to have single occupant cars as our main mode of transport. I propose that we investigate this issue, initiate a public debate and produce a report on congestion charges, starting in Dublin, the provision of park and ride facilities, particularly for bus transport, in all of our cities, the development of quality bus corridors and making certain areas of our city centres car-free.
I have circulated some documentation outlining the experience in London of the congestion charge and hope we will carry out examinations of some of the successful experiences of park and ride facilities in York and Chester in Britain. It is interesting that there are no bus park and ride facilities in Dublin, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. Only in Cork has such a project commenced and it has been a huge success, with 1,000 car spaces provided outside Cork city. From the research I have done since it was indicated that I would be appointed to the committee, a significant amount of money has been made available by the Department of Transport for such facilities but it has not been taken up. That is remarkable. I propose that we invite the city managers of the three Dublin local authorities, senior management from CIE and private bus operators and departmental officials to appear before the committee to examine the reasons the approach to the provision of park and ride facilities and quality bus services has not been more progressive.
Other priorities I have listed include road safety, learner drivers, the accessibility of public transport and air transport services, not least at Shannon Airport, an issue close to our hearts. There are many important issues for us to discuss and we have a lot of work to do. This committee can make a significant contribution. I look forward to working with all committee members in that respect.