Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The Labour Party is proposing in this motion that the problems of Dublin might be solved if we constructed a network of park and ride sites, fed by what it calls express buses. Perhaps the Labour Party has not had time to do much homework on this topic, but I am only too happy to help. Its members may be surprised to know that the DTO commissioned a study on bus-based park and ride facilities and their potential solution to traffic problems in Dublin, which was published in 2002 and is available on its website. This study, conducted by the British firm TAS, looked at the suitability of bus-based park and ride facilities as a solution to congestion in Dublin. The study explains the appropriate conditions in which bus-based park and ride solutions work on a large scale. These include a maximum travel distance of 5 km from the park and ride facility to the urban centre, a maximum journey time of 15-20 minutes, and notably concluded that bus-based park and ride facilities are ideally suited to urban areas with a population of less than 200,000.

This does not mean that there may not be specific bus-based park and ride projects on specific corridors which could be very successful. The study noted that a role existed for small parking facilities close to bus stops in the outer regions, where access to bus services is poor because of the low density of the population and where existing bus services have capacity to take more passengers. In this context, South Dublin County Council has indicated that it may seek funding for a pilot park and ride service and has selected two possible sites, one on the N4 and one on the N7 near the Citywest interchange. We remain open to proposals for such projects.

From the TAS study, it is clear the idea that strategic park and ride sites served by buses can be a magic bullet for the problems of congestion in Dublin is objectively not the case. Certainly, bus-based park and ride facilities can play some role in solving Dublin's problems, but not a decisive role. Iarnród Éireann has park and ride facilities at the majority of the railway stations throughout its network, ranging from small on-street facilities to large pay facilities at major stations. All commuter parking at Iarnród Éireann stations is currently free, while Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council operates a pay car park at Salthill. Connolly and Heuston Stations both have dedicated pay car parks for intercity users. Iarnród Éireann plans to expand a number of these park and ride facilities next year. There are currently four park and ride sites along the existing Luas network at Red Cow, Sandyford, Stillorgan and Balally. The RPA proposes to open a new park and ride facility adjacent to the Tallaght Luas stop within the next two years, with an anticipated capacity of 450 spaces.

It is clear that we have made substantial progress in addressing the weaknesses in our transport infrastructure. It is also clear that the fast pace of growth we have experienced is straining our infrastructure at peak times, and that this can be exacerbated to intolerable levels when accidents or incidents combine with poor weather to cause major delays and tailbacks. The challenges we face are to manage our transport system better and to take measures in the short term to improve the system, while ensuring that the major projects necessary for a well functioning transport system in the medium and longer term are rapidly advanced. The Government is dealing with these challenges. It has committed the funding and it is taking action now, while at the same time keeping a clear focus on the integrated transport system necessary to underpin Ireland's competitiveness and growth. The amendment to the motion sets out our commitment to providing Dublin with the transport system appropriate to its status as a thriving capital city and states our record of significant progress in pursuing this objective. I commend the amendment to the House.

See this speech in context