Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Transport the percentage reduction of traffic on city roads since the introduction of the Luas. [19155/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The specific data requested by the Deputy is not available. However, I understand that in excess of 14.5 million passenger journeys were recorded on Luas from the commencement of passenger services in June 2004 until the end of May 2005.

The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Luas on travel patterns. The before Luas survey was carried out in the spring of 2004 and it is intended that the after Luas survey will be carried out in 2006 when travel patterns on Luas have become more established.

The RPA has also carried out less formal research on its customer base and it is clear that a large proportion of Luas users had previously used private vehicles. Apart from car transfers, there also appears to be a significant number of new trips to the city centre for business and or recreation. This view is shared by city centre businesses, which report substantial increase in business as a result of Luas and is reflected in the high levels of Luas usage in the traditional off peak periods and at weekends.