Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding contingency plans for the major infrastructural works due to commence in Dublin for metro north, the Luas link-up and the Dublin rail interconnector in order to minimise the potential massive disruption to commuters, residents and local businesses; when he last met with Dublin City Council and all relevant stakeholders on the big dig; when he will start a public information and awareness campaign on the big dig; the major traffic change that will be made in April 2009 or later in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have indicated previously, pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin City Manager chairs the Dublin Transport 21 Implementation Group which co-ordinates and oversees the investment programme in Dublin. The Group comprises the chief executives of the principal implementing agencies, an Assistant Secretary from my Department, the Fingal County Manager, the Director of Traffic and representatives of the Garda Síochána and business associations.

Two sub-groups have been established and the business community is represented on both.

The Contingency Planning Group is overseeing the preparation by Dublin City Council of a traffic management strategy for the Transport 21 construction phase, focused particularly on the city centre. This strategy will take account of other construction activity by local authorities, public bodies and private developers.

The Communications Group is preparing a co-ordinated communications strategy for the construction period of major Transport 21 projects, such as Metro North and the Interconnector. The theme of this strategy will be "Dublin is open for business".

In addition, Dublin City Council is holding focus meetings with the City Centre business community while the RPA continues to meet individual businesses and residents' organisations along the Metro North preferred alignment to inform them of its plans and seek to address issues of concern. I understand that in early in 2009 a multi-agency joint strategy, including a public information and awareness campaign, will be rolled out.

I hold regular quarterly meetings with the Transport 21 implementing agencies, An Garda Síochána and business organisations in Dublin to identify the principal concerns of the business community and to review progress on traffic planning for the construction phase of Transport 21 projects. I last met with the Dublin City Centre Stakeholders Group on 29 September 2008. It was agreed at that meeting that the next meeting of the Stakeholders Group will be in January 2009.