Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

There is an opportunity for experimentation in some of the small scale projects and testing out new ideas, some of which would come from other countries. We are not leaders in terms of city planning and city transport planning and there is much to be learned, as the Minister of State knows. I know the Oireachtas transport committee continues to do this through visits to cities that are ahead of the curve on this issue. There is an opportunity to use new technologies. I saw a recent example of new technology in my own county on the bridge at Killaloe on the border between counties Clare and Tipperary — many Members know of it. For years, trucks became caught on the bridge because of its width and ended up stalling traffic. A very sophisticated traffic light management system is being installed. It is only an interim solution and we would obviously like to see the bridge widened or a new bridge constructed, which has been proposed. The latest technologies in traffic lights systems can greatly alleviate current problems and ensure that there is a greater movement of traffic and that unnecessary delays, which are associated with older technologies, are avoided.

It is critically important for the Minister for State to examine integrated transport systems in other countries. This needs to be examined in terms of the entire public transport network and ensuring that integration is present. There are many examples of this around Europe.

Education is also a vital component of solutions for the future. The ESB has taught the public about and promoted the idea of conservation and the efficient use of electricity for many years. The ESB suggests that electricity is a finite resource in terms of our ability to generate it. We could also use the same educational approach in terms of the conservation of the use of our road network. When it gets to the current level of congestion in our cities, we must educate people. The Minister of State already spoke about some of these initiatives regarding when people use roads and possibly encouraging people to use them at off-peak times for non-essential travel.

The Minister of State's role in dealing with congestion in the greater Dublin area is very worthy and needs to be supported. However, congestion occurs in regional cities and towns, which is also worth looking at. I hope the Government continues to address this issue in the future. It has done so in County Clare with the Ennis bypass and similar developments have occurred in County Sligo and other areas and we wish to see these continue. The tunnel being constructed under the River Shannon that will connect counties Limerick and Clare will be important and immensely beneficial to the people in these two counties and the future growth of Shannon Airport when it comes into play. Hopefully, this will help to overcome some of the drop in passenger numbers about which we are concerned which will result from the proposed changes in the Ireland-US bilateral agreement. I wish to put on record the concern felt by people in County Clare about reports that the Department of Transport is actively pursuing a policy of ending the current dual gateway policy with the US. It appears that this policy is being driven by a desire to facilitate Aer Lingus's expansion, which will create a very difficult trading environment for Shannon Airport. This again tends to centralise services on the east coast, which is unhelpful and unnecessary given the growth of the east coast and traffic congestion there. If we could continue with Government policies that deliver balanced regional development and an infrastructure outside Dublin, it may also help overcome some of the congestion in Dublin. The tell-tale signs are already there.

The Shannon Airport Authority is promoting a policy of outsourcing to reduce its costs and is claiming that it is forced to do this. While cost reduction is essential for the future viability of any project or operation, outsourcing can only lead to the creation of yellow pack jobs which will reduce the quality of life and social circumstances of those employed by the airport and those living in the region. Why is this being done? I suppose the reason is to boost the profits of Ryanair, which will hold Shannon Airport to ransom if it becomes the dominant player — I have no doubt it will become the dominant player if the dual gateway policy is dropped. These are the kinds of measures that go over and above what the Minister of State spoke about in terms of alleviating traffic congestion on the east coast, particularly in Dublin. Continuing to promote balanced regional development and the growth of centres in line with the national spatial strategy will also have an effect and help alleviate the problem. This situation is another example of corporate greed, which seeks through outsourcing to increase profits by forcing workers to take less pay for doing more work. We have witnessed a similar situation with Irish Ferries.

The Government needs to examine in other areas how the economic sectors are managed to ensure that a spread of population and economic growth will also help to alleviate some of the problems that have bedevilled Dublin in terms of the growth in the numbers of people living and working there and increased congestion, which is now reaching unacceptable levels. This initiative, which goes into the minute detail of the issue, is very welcome but there is a wider solution which we have known about for some time. It is a way of dealing with the west of Ireland and what the Government has already begun through decentralisation, which will also be very beneficial in the future and help redress the balance and address the congestion issues in Dublin and on the east coast.