Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, and his officials to the House. I confess that when the motion on the Clare Street initiative and traffic calming measures appeared on the Order Paper for today, I did not know what it was about. I therefore had to do some research. Having done so, I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, on his initiative.

I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, chaired a meeting on 5 October last in Clontarf Castle. The participants have already been mentioned by him and other speakers and I do not intend to mention them again. They agreed to establish what has become known as the Clare Street initiative. They agreed its purpose will be to progress the effective implementation of traffic management and related measures in the greater Dublin area. This area, as outlined by the Minister of State in his speech, includes all of Dublin city and county and counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.

The focus of the initiative will be on measures that will have the capacity to make a material difference, large or small, measures capable of delivering rapid results, and measures which might not otherwise attract high priority for implementation. The initiative will also provide the opportunity for experimentation and small-scale field testing of practical measures, the transfer of know-how based on best practice and the implementation of innovative concepts and emerging technologies.

I must confess I do not know Dublin well. I basically know how to get into it and out of it. The time that takes depends on the time one is coming in or going out. I am aware of many transport-related programmes conceived by the Government, some of which are completed and some of which are soon to be completed. The Luas, for instance, is an excellent system and has been a great success in transporting people throughout the city. The quality bus corridors, which have been mentioned by a number of speakers, are a great success, although my colleague Senator Morrissey seems to have a difficulty with the one that operates in his area. Perhaps, as a public representative, he should deal with that and not bring it to the House. People who have experience of these quality bus corridors argue that they should be expanded. I welcome the fact that €35 million has been allocated this year for the expansion of the quality bus corridors.

The DART system has doubled its number of carriages and this is to be welcomed. I understand, from people who use the DART, that it has become very effective. It is now a nicer form of transport for people to take in the mornings and evenings. I welcome today's announcement by Irish Rail that it is to invest €250 million on the Kildare line. However, I regret that it will take up to four years before that project is completed. Nonetheless, we have to go through the democratic process as regards proposed projects. I would also like to see this project expanded further down the line towards Mullingar, before long.

I understand that the Dublin Port tunnel will soon be finished. I note that Senator Paddy Burke and a number of other speakers have expressed concern over supertrucks not being able to use the port tunnel. I do not know enough about this to comment. However, I trust the Taoiseach, and if he says there is no need for them, then that is the position. I understand that an outer ring road is being planned for Dublin and will be included in the NRA's ten-year plan, which is to be published shortly.

My part of the country contributes to some of the congestion in the capital. The construction of the M3 is vitally important for people living in Cavan and Meath, commuting from towns such as Virginia, Kells and Dunshaughlin. More than 3,000 people commute daily from Cavan alone, not to mention the other towns on the way. It is vitally important that this is completed without delay. I welcome that the Minister has given permission for the archaeological digs which so far have unearthed nothing of significance, I understand. In this regard I want to comment on the proposal for a park-and-ride system. Any vehicle travelling from Cavan to Dublin on the new M3 will have to pay two tolls. There is no difficulty with that. However, there are proposals for the provision of a park-and-ride facility for up to 1,500 cars on the outskirts of Dunshaughlin. That will also have to be paid for by the people who use it. Anyone using the road and paying tolls should not have to pay to use that facility. I urge the Minister to examine this.

I would urge the Minister and the Government to go full speed ahead with the rail link to Clonee and on to Navan. I am a realist and do not expect this within the next few years, but perhaps the NRA's next ten-year plan might mention that the line could perhaps go as far as Cavan. Cavan is an expanding town——