Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport if Bus Éireann vehicles have been given permission to drive on the hard shoulder of some main roads; if the quality of the road surface on these lanes is sufficient; the speeds at which buses will be travelling past slow moving traffic on main lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4797/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Transport if proposals are being examined in relation to allowing bus operators to use hard shoulders; the extent to which such proposals are developed; the specific road route ways on which such hard shoulders may be used, in entering Dublin city; when he anticipates a decision on this issue will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4745/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 158 together.

Proposals are being pursued in my Department to ensure that measures are taken to improve public transport flows and to reduce congestion. The objective of providing bus priority measures is to assist bus operators in meeting their schedules thereby assisting in the achievement of modal shift from the private car to public transport.

My officials are engaged in discussions with the Dublin Transportation Office, the quality bus network office of Dublin City Council and the National Roads Authority to progress how the hard shoulder area could be safely used at congestion hot spot locations on national roads, including those linking Dublin and satellite towns.

Local authorities are responsible for traffic management in their areas and the progression of bus priority measures involves a sequence of steps such as the identification of congestion pinch points, the carrying out of an engineering inspection of the road at those locations to ascertain the structural carrying capacity of the hard shoulder area and the execution of any strengthening or improvement works necessary. At planning stage, a public consultation process is undertaken in relation to the preliminary design for the bus priority project.

Pilots of this bus priority initiative are being developed at present at a number of locations, including the northbound and southbound approaches to Dunshaughlin and at Bracetown between Dunshaughlin and Clonee in County Meath and at various locations on the Naas Road in South Dublin County Council. The operation of the pilot measures will be monitored with a view to having similar measures followed at other suitable locations throughout the country.

My Department is at present directly engaged in two issues that are relevant to this initiative. In the first instance, it is engaged in consultations with the National Roads Authority and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the development of special new traffic signs for the purpose of informing road users of the provision of bus lanes in hard shoulders. In addition, guidelines in relation to the deployment of special speed limits are being developed at present. The preparation of the guidelines is one of a number of initiatives contained in the Road Traffic Act 2004 which I brought into operation on 20 January 2005. The Act introduces a more flexible policy for the application of speed limits generally, including the flexibility to apply separate lanes, which may be appropriate at some locations where bus lanes are provided on hard shoulders.

Where a bus lane is provided on a hard shoulder area it is a matter for the council of the city or county council concerned to decide if special speed limits arrangements are warranted.