Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 27: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement detailing the progress to date and timeframe for delivery of the programme for Government commitments to reduce travelling times and traffic congestion, protect the environment and deliver real commuting choices to people. [13636/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Very significant progress continues to be made on implementing the commitments relating to transport in the Programme for Government. We are continuing to invest in Ireland's transport infrastructure through Transport 21 and enormous progress has been made over the past three years. The maintenance of a high level of investment in public transport has facilitated the provision of better and higher quality bus and rail services throughout the country as an alternative to the private car. Continued investment in public transport will have real benefit for the environment and for congestion reduction as a result of fewer private car journeys being made.

In addition, the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (No. 15 of 2008) facilitates the establishment of a new Transport Authority with overall responsibility for strategic transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area. The Authority will be responsible for the integration of public transport services with an objective of service providers providing very high quality transport services to the public.

In relation to the national road network, significant progress continues to be made in the delivery of the five major inter urban routes (MIUs) – from Dublin to the Border, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. The M1 from Dublin to the Border was completed in 2007, while work on the other routes is underway. Those portions of the routes that have been opened to traffic in the past few years have delivered significant reductions in journey times. Examples would include bypasses of towns such as Moate, Cashel, Carlow and Gorey. Work is on target for completion of the MIUs by the end of 2010. When the network is complete, very significant reduction in journey times will be achieved.

In addition to the MIUs, the NRA continues to deliver on other vitally important road infrastructure such as the M50. The provision of additional capacity on the M50, being delivered by removing the toll barriers, increasing the number of lanes and making the major junctions 'free-flow', is well underway. The final elements of this work are also due to be delivered by 2010. Reductions in journey times, through bypassing major towns and cities and the provision of sufficient capacity on our major road network will also serve to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for all those affected as well as enhancing prospects for economic recovery.

In addition to the commitments in the Programme for Government, the publication by me of Smarter Travel — A Sustainable Transport Future, the new Government policy on transport, offers a vision which aims to achieve a sustainable transport system for Ireland by 2020. It sets out a series of integrated actions which aim to reduce travel distance and travel times by car, offer alternatives to the car to the extent that by 2020 modal share for the car will have dropped from 65% to 45%, improve fuel efficiency through alternative technologies, and strengthen institutional arrangements to ensure effective delivery of this radical new approach to transport and travel. The action period of 12 years is very ambitious in itself but the Smarter Travel strategy, together with the very significant investment taking place under Transport 21, will ensure Ireland has an excellent sustainable transport system in place by 2020.