Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This question is similar to one asked by Deputy Troy previously, but then I believe it was specific to the M50, which is only part of the traffic congestion problem. I am grateful to Deputy Troy for addressing the matter in a wider form.

Increasing capacity in our public transport system and improving the quality of public transport services is key to addressing congestion in the greater Dublin area.  More than €200 million has been allocated for investment in public and sustainable transport infrastructure in the greater Dublin area in 2016 under the capital plan. The capital investment works currently being undertaken by the National Transport Authority, NTA, in the greater Dublin area include the Luas cross city project, which is on schedule to open at the end of 2017; the Phoenix Park tunnel, which I expect to open for services later this year; the city centre re-signalling project; and investment in the bus fleet and bus priority measures. These will greatly enhance the capacity of the public transport system in the greater Dublin area when completed.

Additionally, funding is being allocated to a wide range of projects in the greater Dublin area aimed at developing sustainable transport modes such as cycling, walking and public transport. Investment is also being made in integration measures designed to encourage the use of public transport, such as real-time passenger information, the Leap card, the national journey planner and on-board Wi-Fi.

The NTA's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area for 2016 to 2035 sets out a comprehensive vision for public transport in the greater Dublin area over the next two decades. The NTA is now drawing up an integrated implementation plan to outline how it will go about delivering the strategy's objectives over the first six-year period within the strategy's overall 20-year horizon.

While investment in the public transport system is critical to addressing congestion, ultimately, a public transport response on its own cannot ensure that there is a sustainable match between transport demand and transport supply. Neither can traffic management measures or additional roads investment achieve this in isolation. Congestion can only be managed by combining all of these responses. Ultimately, urban mobility is inextricable from land use planning. In this regard, my Department is engaging closely in the development of the new national planning framework to ensure that the new framework will support greater integration of land use and transport planning throughout the country.

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