Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
86. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the College Green area, Dublin 2, particularly in view of An Bord Pleanála's decision to reject planning permission for a civic plaza on this site; and if he will take steps to alleviate the traffic congestion in this area. [45632/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is of course aware that the planning application was brought by Dublin City Council and the decision to refuse was made by An Bord Pleanála. The Council’s application was made in its role as the relevant local and roads authority for Dublin City and I am sure the Deputy respects the role of the City Council, and indeed all local authorities, in relation to their statutory roles and responsibilities.
The Deputy refers to the development of a plaza on College Green which of course forms a central element of Dublin City Council’s plans for the area and features in the Council’s Development Plan.
There is of course a transport element to the Council’s plans for College Green and that was founded on part of the 2015 “Dublin City Centre Transport Study”, which was developed by the Council in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA). That Transport Study sought to
- Address the transport issues facing the core city centre area;
- Facilitate the implementation of the Council’s Development Plan; and
- Safeguard the future development of the city.
The Study noted that the development of Luas CrossCity required a renewed focus on traffic and junction arrangements along its route, including the College Green area.
Complementing that focus, the Council sought to improve the public realm and create a new civic plaza. As I have already mentioned, I understand that the proposal to upgrade the public realm forms part of the Council’s current Development Plan.
As the Deputy can appreciate, therefore, the planning application for the College Green plaza proposal is a matter for the Council.
However, as I have said there is a transport context for this.
The issue of congestion is one which formed the backdrop to the 2015 Study and forms the backdrop to any discussion of transport within the core City Centre today also.
As we all know the College Green area is an important transport corridor for public transport and pedestrians and cyclists too.
The implications of the Board’s recent decision are being carefully considered by the Council in its role as relevant local and roads authority for the area, and the National Transport Authority, in its statutory role as transport authority.
That consideration reflects the statutory responsibilities of the various State authorities. It is not a matter for decision by a Government Minister as to what the traffic arrangements on a City Centre street might be or whether a public plaza should be created or indeed how it should be created.
What I am responsible for is the development of public transport policy and the overall funding to provide for the implementation of that policy.
And in that regard we have made progress in recent years since publication of the City Centre Transport Study in 2015
- We’ve increased rail services through the re-opening of the Phoenix Park Tunnel;
- We’ve continued to invest in the City Centre Re-signalling Project;
- We’ve introduced 10-minute DART services;
- We’ve invested in new bus services and fleet; and
- We’ve invested in improved cycle routes and expanded public bike sharing schemes.
And we’re planning for the future too, through the BusConnects, MetroLink and DART Expansion projects.
So there has been progress in public transport in recent years and that progress will continue and accelerate with the roll-out of those projects I’ve just referred to.
In relation to the specific issues in the College Green area, I expect the Council and the NTA will fully consider the Board’s recent decision in the context of the known issues which remain with regard to the movement of transport through the area.
