Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas don Seanadóir as ucht na ceiste seo a ardú ar an Athló agus deis labhartha a thabhairt dom maidir leis an mhéid atá le déanamh leis na hoibreacha riachtanacha seo. I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment and giving me the opportunity to outline my views. In line with the rest of the city of Dublin, the Phoenix Park, in particular its main road, Chesterfield Avenue, has experienced a dramatic increase in traffic volumes in recent years. This development has been detrimental to the structural integrity of the road, the quality of the park as a recreational facility and, in particular, the safety of park users and motorists.

When it was originally constructed, it had not been envisaged that Chesterfied Avenue would deal with such intense traffic volumes and as a result, it now needs both major repair works to the foundations and surface of the road, and the introduction of design features with a view to increasing safety and reducing the speed of traffic. A fully integrated plan for the renovation of the avenue has accordingly been prepared by my Department, and it is intended to submit the scheme for planning approval early in the new year. The safety of all park users has been paramount in the preparation of this plan which has been developed in consultation with the Dublin Transportation Office and will involve a variety of traffic calming measures which are appropriate to the context of this national historic park. Key factors which been have taken into consideration in this regard include the avenue's width and length which lead to speeding and the need to give pedestrians priority at the Park Gate end of the road.