Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has been reviewing proposals for the introduction of a congestion charge in Dublin; if he has absolutely ruled out the introduction of a congestion charge in this regard pending the delivery of key Transport 21 projects for Dublin; his views on the value of congestion charges for dealing with problems of congestion; his evaluation of the quality bus corridor network roll-out; the proposals he will being forward in 2008 to reduce the volume of cars passing through the Dublin canal cordon in the morning peak period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3525/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Though specific proposals for the introduction of congestion charging are not being considered at the moment, the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 states that consideration will be given to the potential introduction of fiscal measures, including road pricing or congestion charging, to reduce transport demand, once adequate supply-side infrastructure is in place.

Congestion charges can incentivise the shift from personal car transport and have been successfully adopted in, for example, London and Stockholm. On its introduction, the London congestion charge reduced congestion by 30% and traffic levels by 18% with a positive net annual revenue. Similarly, the Stockholm congestion charge resulted in weekday traffic falling by 22% and a reduction of 12% in emissions. That was introduced initially on a trial basis and was later adopted following a public referendum.

The success of these schemes is partly due to the availability of public transport alternatives and democratic consensus, following public awareness campaigns. Various types of charge are feasible, including cordon charges and area licences. Technological development provides the means for more sophisticated and targeted pricing schemes.

It is too early to say what, if any, fiscal measures are needed in Ireland. The Government is committed to delivering a sustainable travel and transport action plan this year and I hope to initiate an intensive public consultation process on the issues in the near future. The question of congestion reduction and measures in regard to restricting traffic volumes in Dublin city centre will be explored in more detail during that process.

My Department is in the course of completing a value for money and policy review of the DTO traffic management scheme, which is the basis for the funding of the quality bus corridor, QBC, programme. I will lay the review before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks. This review will inform future decisions on the roll-out of the QBC programme under Transport 21, which contains a target of completing or advancing work on 14 QBCs and bus lanes in the greater Dublin area by year-end in the interest of making public transport more attractive to reduce the use of the private car in the city centre area.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Last week at the Committee of Public Accounts, the Dublin city manager, Mr. John Tierney, seemed to refer to imminent congestion charges with regard to the big dig for the development of the Luas and metro. Has the Minister received any firm proposal from the city manager or Dr. John Lynch of CIE, who referred to congestion charges in the past? I note the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transport, Deputy Frank Fahey, was reported in The Sunday Business Post as being, with the Government, in favour of introducing congestion charges at an early date.

The Minister referred to London and Stockholm. Milan, Singapore and Manhattan in New York are also heading in the same direction. The one factor all these cities have which Dublin does not have is a multifaceted public transport system. Surely it is pointless to discuss congestion charges given the huge deficit in public transport under Transport 21.

Have long-range costings been made by the Department with regard to congestion charges or the carbon emissions that could be avoided? If there were to be charges, is it an ambition of the Government to make them self-financing? Will this be a cornerstone of any charge?

The Minister stated there would be consultation on this matter. When will it begin and who will be involved? In Edinburgh and Stockholm the people were asked by referendum whether they wanted a congestion charge. In Stockholm, the city area said "yes" but all the suburbs said "no", and the Swedish Government went ahead. Edinburgh said "no". Will people in Dublin or elsewhere be consulted when congestion charges or other road levies are proposed?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy has posed a range of specific questions as to what may or may not happen, but this matter has not been given detailed consideration in my Department. While I am not avoiding the question, I cannot say how much it might cost or whether it will be revenue neutral or self-financing. The issue has not been dealt with in that kind of detail, although it has been mentioned in the national climate change strategy and in a previous DTO study, both of which are available in the Department. To my knowledge, however, we have not received any specific proposals on this matter from Dublin City Council or Dr. John Lynch of CIE. The Deputy's point is well taken, it is not reasonable to talk about congestion charges when no alternative is in place. However, we must see this in the context of all that will occur in Dublin city centre in the coming years. Dublin City Council is examining a plan to manage traffic in central Dublin, which will have a major effect further out. That will obviously require a large number of buses and that is being examined as part of the traffic management plan.

As regards consultation on the sustainable travel and transport action plan, in the next two to three weeks I hope to have that discussion document available. We will have a couple of months in which to discuss that publicly. The issue will be raised in that document and people will have an opportunity to make their views known.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As regards the powers of local authorities in this regard, will the Minister be publishing the Dublin transport authority Bill anytime soon? He told us we would have it in January. Will powers to impose road levies be included in such a Bill when it appears?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be pleased to know that I expect to publish the DTA Bill in the course of this month and we will then be able to discuss it.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister announce it directly to the Dáil?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am announcing now that it will be available before the end of the month.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

He announced it before.