Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport the interim measures he is taking to deal with traffic congestion in the greater Dublin area pending the full implementation of Transport 21. [35902/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1997, this Government has been implementing a sustained programme to develop key elements of our transport system and reduce congestion. Transport 21 has secured funding for a major public transport investment programme designed to inject a large amount of additional capacity into the public transport network over the next ten years. Existing programmes, such as my Department's traffic management grants scheme will ensure continued and enhanced funding, through the DTO, to local authorities and the quality bus network office, for investment in traffic management schemes throughout the greater Dublin area. The main objective of this scheme is to improve operating conditions for the fleet of buses serving the GDA. A major investment in additional bus capacity is also planned which will be used to meet the immediate and short term requirements for additional public transport while other infrastructure is being put in place.

The opening of the Dublin Port tunnel in mid-2006 will have a positive impact on Dublin's traffic removing substantial volumes of heavy goods vehicles daily from our roads. This will not only help to ease congestion on the roads network but will also ensure greater road safety in the city centre and residential areas. There will also be significant benefits from the DART upgrade project which has seen DART capacity double in recent years.

As part of the Government's ongoing efforts to deal with congestion in Dublin, my Clare Street initiative, CSI, will promote additional measures to progress effective implementation of traffic management and related measures in the greater Dublin area and to bring added value to major transport investments that are under way and planned.