Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason his Department does not hold statistics on traffic volumes; and if he intends to correct this in view of his Department's role and responsibilities. [20159/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department makes use of a range of statistical information on transportation. While some of this information is collected and maintained internally within the Department, most of it is obtained from a variety of other sources including the Central Statistics Office, State agencies under the remit of my Department, other State agencies and international organisations.

In particular, data gathered annually by the National Roads Authority, Córas Iompair Éireann and the Dublin Airport Authority address traffic flows on the national road network, passengers numbers on CIE bus and rail services, and air passenger numbers and aircraft movements in the State airports. These data are published by the relevant agencies on an annual basis.

Each Department is required to prepare a data-statistics strategy as an integral part of its information strategy. Work on the preparation of a data-statistics strategy for the Department of Transport has commenced. As part of this process, the CSO is currently finalising an evaluation of administrative and statistical data holdings in a number of Departments, including the Department of Transport. The report of the CSO and the development of a data-statistics strategy will assist the Department in the future development and implementation of transport policy.