Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Transport if traffic freeflow management will be extended throughout the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42022/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Operation Freeflow, the traffic management initiative for Dublin for the Christmas and New Year period, is now in its eleventh year. There are several reasons why this initiative is not continued around the year.

First, in the period around Christmas and New Year there are different patterns of travel in the city. In particular, far more people are travelling later in the evening, with a great increase in late-night shopping. The additional late-night public transport services provided during Operation Freeflow would not be matched by take-up by the public at other times of the year. The ban on road works, which plays such an important role in Operation Freeflow, would also not be a viable option year-round.

Finally, Freeflow involves putting a large number of extra probationary Gardaí on the streets. As you will appreciate, Garda resources are in demand across a variety of enforcement functions — the retention of so many Gardaí on Freeflow-type duty after traffic volumes revert to normal levels and patterns would be questionable. However, I anticipate that the resourcing situation year-round on traffic duties (including road safety, checkpoints, lane enforcements etc.) will strengthen as the traffic corps grows.

Apart from Operation Freeflow, Transport 21 will make a substantial impact on congestion as the various major investments in traffic management, public transport and roads are rolled out over the coming years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Transport the way it is intended to co-ordinate traffic management in the greater Dublin area in the next five years in view of the limited routes to and from the port tunnel and the high growing volumes of traffic; the extent to which commuters are expected to be facilitated by road, rail and bus with a view to minimising delays and increasing the availability of public transport as an attractive alternative to motor car use and with specific reference to the way potential commuters can get quick and easy access to rail stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42026/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team made a number of recommendations in respect of traffic management. The Team concluded that there needed to be an integrated policy approach to traffic management across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), based on international best practice. They recommended that the Dublin Transport Authority should be obliged to prepare a strategic traffic management plan for the Greater Dublin Area. The Dublin Transport Authority should also be responsible for coordinating the traffic management arrangements during the construction phase of Transport 21.

Traffic management functions should continue to be discharged by local authorities but, in exercising their functions, they would be obliged to comply with the strategic traffic management plan of the Authority. However, the report also recommended that the Dublin Transport Authority should be given power to decide to perform certain traffic management functions itself or through a third party where it considered this to be more effective. It further proposed that the Authority should be empowered to issue policy guidelines and mandatory directions to local authorities in respect of its traffic management functions.

I share the views of the Establishment Team in relation to the need for an integrated approach to traffic management in the Greater Dublin Area. I am also of the view that the range of powers for a Dublin Transport Authority in respect of traffic management proposed by the Team would deliver such an integrated approach. These powers would also enable the Authority to ensure the effective management of any disruption to traffic caused by construction works during the delivery of key infrastructure projects under Transport 21.

The drafting of legislation to give effect to these recommendations is at an advanced stage in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.

A fundamental aim of Transport 21 is to transform the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area in order to cater for increased demands for services in the Area and to provide an attractive alternative for commuters to the private car. A total of €14 billion has been provided under Transport 21 to develop two Metro lines, seven Luas lines and an expanded DART and suburban rail system. The number of buses in the GDA will be increased significantly and the Quality Bus Corridor network will be doubled. A key element of Transport 21 will be to put in place an integrated system that provides easy access and optimal interchange possibilities for commuters.