Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up where the last speaker left off with regard to the major potential for rail in this country, including passenger services and especially freight. I hope when the new agency is up and running it will focus as part of its work programme on how we can expand and improve that area of transport infrastructure in our economy. I very much welcome the Bill, which is important legislation that furthers our reform programme by rationalising two State agencies, finding greater efficiencies and ultimately reducing the burden on the State, which is to be welcomed.

Part of the rationale behind this merger is the reduced capital investment programme we have seen in the past number of years. It is important to take that into account but it is also important to realise that this will not always be the case and in the coming years there will be a rationale, calls and funding to increase our capital expenditure, and we must have the right resources in place if we are to do that. In one sense I caution that we should not lose the people we may need in the coming years because current levels of capital expenditure are so low. For example, light rail is the future for Dublin city and I would hate to see our expertise in the area go because there will be less expenditure once the Luas cross-city project is finished. I remain to be convinced by metro north and the DART underground, and light rail is the way to go for a small medieval city like Dublin. I hope the new agency will work in that direction.

When the merger taking place now is completed, I expect to see a reduction in staff numbers as the agencies should be able to find efficiencies and resources by removing certain duplication that would have existed if there were no redundancies. The redundancies are offered on a voluntary basis, of course, and it will be interesting to see the final figure for this new agency after the merger. I hope the number of staff employed will reflect the needs of the agency.

There is a difficulty in merging agencies like these but projects are still being implemented. We are seeing that now in Dublin city, as Deputies coming to Leinster House will have noticed the changed traffic management plan around St. Stephen's Green, Dawson Street and Kildare Street and how there is an impact on the area. It is an excellent project and the Minister is absolutely correct in proceeding with it, as it will be very important for Dublin city, all the businesses and the people who come to the city, as well as tourists. It is important we maintain a strong communications plan throughout with local businesses so they are aware of the phasing for this project, as it is happening over a number of years and it is having a big impact on the area around the city. Equally important for us is to give the message to the public that the city is open for business and despite these works, which will bring very big improvements in future, today, tomorrow and for the coming two years the city is open for business. Dublin city centre will remain a place to come to eat, drink, meet people, do tourist activities, shop and all the other activities that can be done in the city.

There are other aspects of the Bill that deal with collection of tolls. In Dublin city the East Link will move into the ownership of Dublin City Council soon and there is a question regarding maintaining the toll rate for people crossing the Liffey. There are different ways of looking at this, and as the payment of a toll at the bridge is already accepted, perhaps it might be foolish to remove the toll. There is potential scope to reduce it but if it is to remain at any level, the funding should be ring-fenced for transport projects. Immediately, I can think of dublinbikes, as we are seeking funding to expand that project south and north of the canals. The dublinbikes scheme is a massive improvement to the city and every bit of money we can spend on it will save the city and individuals money in the long run. If the East Link toll is to remain, we should invest the money in projects like dublinbikes, cycling infrastructure and road maintenance. With the change of ownership for the East Link, I hope there will be scope to improve traffic patterns over the Samuel Beckett bridge, which are not necessarily convenient to all people crossing the Liffey at that junction.

As we are discussing a roads Bill, I will mention the Smarter Transport Bill I published in 2011, which relates to the use of car clubs, parking on public streets and the ability to provide parking designated only for electric vehicles where there are charging points. I understand from the Minister that those regulations are being drafted and it would be excellent if they could be expedited and put in place as quickly as possible. We are seeing more electric vehicle charging points around the city but spaces are being blocked by people who do not have electric vehicles, which is a waste of infrastructure. If we want to continue the roll-out of electric vehicles in the city, we must ensure that our policy and by-laws are joined up and make sense.

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