Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the changes to transport in the centre of Dublin proposed by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority in the Dublin city centre transport study; his further views on the proposals to ban private cars from key central routes within the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23835/15]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister will be aware that the National Transport Authority has prepared a report that seeks to ban private cars, including taxis, from key central routes in Dublin city centre. Will he outline his views on the report to the House?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Before I reply to the Deputy's question, I add my voice to the voices of those who spoke in the Dáil yesterday about the awful tragedy and loss of life in Berkeley. My thoughts, like those of everyone else, are with the families of those involved and everyone else who has been affected by this incident.

The Dublin city transport study which was recently published jointly by the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council comprises a set of proposals to enhance overall movement in the city and cater for increased usage.  It seeks to address the imminent transport issues facing the core city centre area, to facilitate the implementation of the Dublin City Council development plan and to safeguard the future growth of the city. A public consultation process is being carried out on the study. Anyone who wishes to make a submission on the study can do so online at .  The closing date for receipt of submissions is Thursday, 16 July.

As the study is the subject of a public consultation process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual proposals. Decisions on specific traffic management measures are the responsibility of the local authority and will be matters for Dublin City Council to progress when the consultation process is complete. Councillors will have to decide whether to include the various recommendations, some of which are controversial, in its next development plan. I confirm that the general thrust of the proposals is in line with my Department's overall strategic policy for sustainable urban transport. I do not doubt that in the public consultation process we will hear from city centre business interests who believe private cars should form part of the transport mix, for example, to allow city centre shoppers to purchase large and bulky items. A key objective of transport policy is to ensure investment is targeted in the most effective way that encourages people to leave the car at home, where possible, and to walk, cycle or avail of public transport. The study will play a role in seeking to determine the most appropriate way to make progress with that agenda, taking account of all stakeholder views.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am disappointed that the Minister is not in a position to put his views clearly into the public realm. I accept the statutory position he is in. It would be highly unusual if, as the Minister with responsibility for transport, he felt precluded from offering his views on this matter. If he were to offer them, I do not think it would conflict in any way with the roles of Dublin City Council or the National Transport Authority as set out in statute. Given that the total ban faced by private motorists on College Green and parts of the quays needs to be addressed in advance, I suggest the Minister set out his views as part of the process of public consultation. I totally believe in the concept of improving the movement of buses, trams, cyclists and pedestrians as part of the National Transport Authority's plan to cope with the expected 20% increase in commuter numbers. As the Minister knows, the report points out that O'Connell Bridge is used by approximately 70,000 vehicles each day, or approximately 60% of the number of vehicles that use the M50 each day. These are startling figures. It is right and appropriate that an approach be taken to ameliorate the expected increase in order that everybody can go about his or her business. Mr. Conor Faughnan of AA Ireland has suggested there has a belief for some time that four wheels are bad and two wheels are good. Unfortunately, that attitude is starting to find a level of acceptance in certain State agencies. We need to look at everything on its merits. The greater the number of people who involve themselves in the discourse during this process - that includes the Minister - the more helpful and beneficial it will be to whatever is the final draft. We have to look at the importance of the motorist, especially in the light of what he or she contributes to the economy generally.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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A recognition of the role played by Dublin City Council in this respect, as well as the powers afforded to the council under law and the use made of these powers, needs to be at the heart of the discussion. The council is looking to hear the views of the people of the city and beyond on its proposals. While that consultation process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to become publicly involved in a draft plan that is out for consultation. As I said to the Deputy, I support the overall objectives of the plan. It is essential that we find the right transport mix to deal with the huge increased demand for road space in the future owing to the recovering economy. In the past five years the Government has made funding of approximately €97 million available via the National Transport Authority for improvements in transport infrastructure in this area. The Government is also investing almost €370 million in the cross-city Luas line which will be operational in 2017.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is well aware of how well pedestrian zones work in cities throughout the world. It is, undoubtedly, fantastic that they improve the living space and allow people to get around, but they have to be developed in harmony with people's ability to gain access to such locations by means of private cars or public transport. There is a delicate and fine balance between the two. On the basis of what I have read so far, I am concerned that the broader exclusion of the car from the city centre almost has the potential to make a park out of that zone. If access to the city centre is restricted and the volume of people is reduced, there will be no level of activity there. It will become a no-go zone for people who will choose to do their business elsewhere. We should have learned from experience around the world when city centres started to be hollowed out. Much of that happened as a result of people's decisions to move to commuter belts and live on the outskirts of cities. If a business district is created in the city centre and cars are removed, it could potentially have a really damaging effect on the economic life of the city. For that reason, I hope people's views will be listened to as part of a broader consultation process. The consultation process on this report should not be mere window-dressing that will allow Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority to drive ahead with this agenda.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Nobody involved in the process has the objective of seeking to turn our city centre into a no-go zone or to get to a point at which our city is hollowed out. The objective of the proposals the city council is putting forward is the opposite of this. It wants to create a more vibrant and sustainable city centre balancing the huge number of people passing through it with the needs of the business community and the growing residential community. This is fully recognised by the Government, which is why we are investing in the Luas cross-city project and why we have invested more than €97 million in recent years. We will support good plans for the area depending on the funding available to us. I agree with the Deputy we need a good consultation process and this is under way. I will make comment, and the Department will become involved, at the end of this process when everybody has had an opportunity to make known his or her views.