Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for giving me the opportunity to address the Seanad on the Dublin eastern bypass corridor from Booterstown to Sandyford and the possibility of alternative uses being considered. I am sure he will acknowledge that there are a number of different actors within this sphere and that a lot of work has taken place over the past number of years. That work remains ongoing.

The national development plan identified the southern port access road as one of the projects to be progressed through early planning and appraisal during the period of the plan. The proposed project would provide connectivity between Dublin's north and south ports. Based on the NTA's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area for 2016 to 2035 and the Dublin city development plan for 2016 to 2022, a southern port access road connection between the Dublin Port tunnel and Poolbeg would also have served as the first part of a future Dublin eastern bypass.

Dublin City Council commissioned a feasibility study in 2020 to consider the southern port access road and its interface with the more long-term objective to deliver the Dublin eastern bypass. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Tll, also commissioned a study this year to review current policy, traffic assessments and requirements for the southern port access road and the eastern bypass. As part of that, it commissioned technical advisers to review the need for the eastern bypass scheme and the justification for proceeding. The review found that the need for the scheme, as originally identified, was no longer justified. The strategic assessment report concluded that the eastern bypass had limited benefits for the M50 and would adversely affect tunnel operations. It also concluded that should the scheme not progress, there was merit in considering some of the alignment for priority bus measures and active travel. TIl has briefed the relevant local authorities and the NTA. I understand the report will be published on the TIl website in the near future.

That briefing by Tll fed into the draft transport strategy for the greater Dublin area that was published in November 2021. Measure ROAD4 of that strategy states that the NTA will undertake an assessment of the potential for the southern section of the former eastern bypass corridor reservation, as provided for in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county development plan, to be used as a transport corridor accommodating sustainable transport modes. Pending completion of this assessment, the existing reservation should be retained.

I understand the NTA is currently in the process of reviewing the observations made during the consultation period and preparing a revised draft transport strategy for submission to the Minister for Transport for his consideration, in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. The NTA anticipates further dialogue with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on potential alternative uses of the corridor following the finalisation and completion of the transport strategy process. I understand the Department of Transport has not been involved in these discussions, which have taken place at an agency and local authority level.