Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I will not have time to respond to all the contributions but there are a few issues I wish to address. I again refer to the significant and unprecedented investment that has been made and continues to be made in transport infrastructure.

Senator Paddy Burke asked if funding was available for the Clare Street initiative. I am pleased to say it is. Many of the agencies have their funding and are satisfied that they will be able to accommodate some of the requests relating to the CSI.

The idea of CSI is that it is intended to complement and bring added value to the major transport investments that are currently under way or planned for the greater Dublin area. The CSI will focus on the smaller scale traffic management and related initiatives rather than the large scale infrastructural or other capital investment projects, on the understanding, of course, that we are doing our ten-year investment plan and we know what that entails.

I am delighted to hear Senator Norris endorse my desire to see the metro on the north side of the city, not just as far as Dublin Airport but north of Swords to open that catchment area. I know others in the Chamber want this development, which should include park and ride facilities.

The Clare Street initiative has been introduced to develop projects that will contribute towards more effective traffic management in the greater Dublin area. The initiative will specifically focus on the development of measures that have the capacity to deliver results on the ground quickly and, in particular, on the practical delivery of projects. The necessary investment and funding will be available from the Department of Transport, along with investment in other required infrastructural projects. The ten-year transport investment framework is under consideration and I am optimistic that we will be in a position in a matter of weeks to provide the final detail in respect of it.

A number of Senators mentioned park and ride facilities. If I had within my control a land bank on a main artery route into the city with an adjacent bus or rail link or if anybody indicated to me that the Department possessed such a land bank, I would dig it with shovel and spade if necessary to put a park and ride facility in place.