Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim buíochas leis freisin as teacht anseo chun labhairt ar an ábhar seo. The Luas, as we know, and I am specifically talking here about the green line that runs along the old Harcourt Street railway line corridor, was constructed without regard to other transport options that might have been put alongside it. For example, as you go through Ranelagh, right out through Milltown and the Milltown viaduct, and through all of the other places as far as Bride’s Glen and Cherrywood, there is no facility for people to walk or cycle alongside the Luas line. Undoubtedly, there is not enough space to do that in places, but given that the corridor was there and there was certain land acquisition, it seems to me that it was a real missed opportunity not to create a parallel facility. The Minister and I have spoken on a number of occasions about the provision of corridors, particularly for commuter cyclists and walkers. The one we have probably spoken most about is the Sutton to Sandycove greenway, S2S, which would be along the coast of Dublin Bay. The principle is the same here.

We are trying to encourage people to be commuters on foot and on bicycles because of the myriad benefits that arise from that both to them personally and in respect of the traffic and the levels of pollution, etc. If that is the starting point, we should also be making it as easy as possible for them to do that by putting in place properly segregated and separate spaces for cyclists and pedestrians to commute in and out of the city centre.

That is exactly what I am proposing with the S2S, which is separate from the road and not on the Rock Road but on the coast, away and uninterrupted. The same is possible with the Luas line.If we go as far as the end of the green line in Bride's Glen, there is definitely space throughout Cherrywood before construction takes place adjacent to the Luas line to create a segregated cycle space for commuter cyclists and, ultimately, for the thousands of people who will be living in Cherrywood to use that direct, uninterrupted line into the city centre if that is where they need to go to commute to and from work. It may not be possible to do that at every stage. The Luas goes through some fairly tight spaces in places like Dundrum, Balally and Ranelagh. Even if it involved extra construction along places like the viaduct in Milltown or if the line was to be extended through the viaduct at Bride's Glen, there is an opportunity to create a segregated cycle lane that would be a safe and easy route for commuter cyclists and it would encourage more people to use their bicycles to commute along spaces between different points along the Luas line or between points and the city centre.

The Minister will be aware that bicycles are not allowed to be brought onto the Luas, which is an issue that is not specifically related to the question I am asking the Minister. That is regrettable. People can take their bicycles onto the DART at certain times and under certain conditions but there is no tolerance whatsoever by the Railway Procurement Agency for bicycles to be brought onto the Luas. Again, it is another disincentive for people to part-use the Luas and part-use bicycles.

The purpose of my raising this issue today is to ask the Minister to give serious consideration to making it easier for cyclists to use their bicycles rather than their cars, essentially to use public transport rather than private transport which clogs up the roads and all that goes with that. There is an opportunity, even if it is retrospective, to refit the sides of the Luas line with cycle tracks, or one side as the case may be, but there was a missed opportunity to do that when Luas line was constructed. We have an opportunity now possibly to correct that. Will the Minister endorse the notion that we should have these separate segregated safe cycle routes and pedestrian routes for people parallel to the Luas line where there is space and an opportunity to provide them?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I thank the Senator for raising this topical and important issue. I will give some of the historical background to the issue because what he is suggesting was considered when the first Luas plans were being drawn up. The original plan was to run a cycleway alongside the Luas, right the way through along all the sections. It makes obvious sense. It is flat terrain and would provide a direct route into town, existing alongside Dundrum Road, which is difficult and dangerous, so it made a great deal of sense. At the last minute it was felt we would have to consider upgrading the Luas from light rail status to metro status and, literally at the last minute, it was decided to take out the cycle facility. It was considered that a slightly wider breadth width would be needed for a fast-moving, potential driverless metro train. The Dundrum bridge design was changed at that time to cater for the heavier requirements a metro would involve. Now it is uncertain as to whether that metro route will use that line.

As part of the greater Dublin strategy review, we are currently considering three options. The first is the metro extending south from Ranelagh either south-west to Terenure, Rathfarnham and Knocklyon. The second is to go up the green line, which would involve considerable disruption. It would be difficult to convert it, even though it was originally designed to be metro compatible, for a variety of reasons which I will not go into. The third option is to run the line south-east via Donnybrook to UCD and Stillorgan to Sandyford and in that way cope with long-term traffic demand on the green line. If it transpires we will not use the green line, it would make sense to reconsider the original design proposal, which was to run a cycle facility parallel to the line. Knowing the line very well, as I am sure the Senator does, there are certain sections where that would be very difficult now. However, I agree with the Senator. There is real potential.

Regardless of what happens, if we consider, as the Senator suggested, for example, having cantilever cycling facilities either side of the nine arches bridge, that would give a very attractive, safe route and provide a relatively easier way into town. Another example would be to use Dundrum bridge, and if people were travelling from Taney Road, and the Senator will know that area, they would be able to cross over and follow that route. I absolutely will commit to asking my officials to look at that design option. We have to wait and see the outcome of the consideration of the three different metro route options. My view is it is not likely the green line will be the metro route because of the significant disruption that would involve. We would have to close it for two years. We will come back and look at it.

The wider issue in Dún Laoghaire and across the city and country is that there is great potential in the shift we need to make to create safe cycling infrastructure. My frustration is the length of time that has passed and the lack of priority it has been given in past decades. At the time we were considering putting cycling facilities along the Luas line, we were also considering sections of what is known as the Sutton to Sandycove route. The Senator will know the pinch point at the Blackrock DART station. Between Deepwell Gardens and the station there is a narrow pinch point, which is the key missing link to creating a spectacular service. I remember at the time, which must be 25 year ago, being told it would be addressed shortly, and now, 25 years, later thousands of people use the facility but those pinch points are still in place. The rest of the facility in Dún Laoghaire along that route is excellent. If we could deal with the pinch points such as that one in Blackrock, it would be of significant advantage to all the people of our city.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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I am very grateful to the Minister for his response. I am very encouraged by what he has said about potentially looking at this again in the future. Regarding what he said about the Sutton to Sandycove, S2S, route, I must disagree with him, although I agree with him on the frustration caused by that small laneway next to the platform at the DART station in Blackrock . It is not the pinch point for the S2S route because it is outside the DART line; it is a coastal route. It is uninterrupted and it could be built in very short order, particularly as part of the reconstruction of the DART seawall. That wall has been in place since the 19th century. It is beginning to disintegrate and it will have to be ungraded as a flood defence in any event. There is a real opportunity to create a proper coastal segregated cycle route there. It is not about bringing it inland and on-road. It is about creating that separate segregated space.

I am encouraged by what the Minister said about the Luas line. If it comes to pass or does not come to pass that the metro will use the green line, I am very encouraged by what the Minister has said about reconsidering the provision of cycle facilities there.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I support the construction of that seawall or further protections and cycle facilities on the coastal side. It will take time because it is an special area of conservation and we all know the environmental sensitivities and the planning difficulties that would involve. Let that not stop us doing immediately what we need to do, which is to build the Strand Road section of the coastal cycle route. We would then be able to do a section from Sean Moore Road down Pigeon House Road. There is a pinch point at the East Link Bridge but from there we would have a safe route to Alfie Byrne Road. We could create a spectacular coastal sea route this summer when we want to get people outdoors, to give people safe options for their children and for people to have a variety of different uses. That is achievable now. Do not let the perfect get in the way of the good in terms of what we can do here and now. The sections that have been done in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown provide great support and it has been a great success. Let us build on that. It will take us several years to build the coastal sections of an alternative seaside route but that should not stop us doing what we can do today.