Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects the Dublin Port tunnel open for public use. [26894/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel project, is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authority concerned — in this case Dublin City Council. Traffic management issues are a matter, in the first instance, for Dublin City Council.

I understand from the NRA that construction of the tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and I am informed that Dublin City Council is in the process of preparing a heavy goods vehicle, HGV, management plan for the city centre and which will also address non-port related HGV traffic movements. Dublin City Council has indicated that this plan will have three objectives, to ensure the optimal use by HGVs of the port tunnel, to minimise adverse effects of remaining HGV movements in the city and to manage the movement of vehicles not within permitted dimensions, for example, through permit systems. I am informed that Dublin City Council published a report on HGV management as a basis for a widespread public consultation exercise, that the public consultation period is now concluded and that the responses received are being evaluated in Dublin City Council. I understand that the HGV management plan, revised to take account of the submissions received, will be published by Dublin City Council shortly.