Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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567. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if completion of work on the M50 is on his agenda, when this work will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4762/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of individual road projects (including the M50) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

I am very conscious of the pressures on the M50 but I do not see the provision of major new road infrastructure as a solution at this time nor is it feasible to do so within the timescale of the next Capital Plan. The upgrade of the M50 was completed as recently as 2010 at a cost of €1 billion and the extra capacity is under pressure already. In the short to medium term, the objective has to be to optimise the operation of the M50 and enhance other options, such as public transport.

TII looked at a range of short-term and longer-term measures to manage demand and optimise operational efficiency on the M50, which it published in its M50 Demand Management Study in April 2014.  At my request, TII has undertaken further analysis and it is progressing several short-term measures. These include changes to junction layouts at key locations, following recent layout upgrades at the N3/M50 and Dublin Airport/M1. The aim of the revised layout is to optimise use of lanes to increase throughput.  TII and local authorities are erecting new, permanent, signage to direct traffic where diversions from the M50 are required. 

Looking forward, I have approved a proposal for TII to progress work on Variable Speed Limits on key areas of the M50, which would smooth out peak time traffic flows. With design and procurement, however, TII estimate this system would take around three years to deliver.  Improvements in terms of public transport alternatives include the reopening of the Phoenix Park Tunnel for services on the Kildare commuter rail line in 2016.  The new LUAS Cross City line, which will be in operation in late 2017, will also be of significant help in this regard. The Capital Plan also envisages significant ongoing investment in the replacement and enlargement of the PSO bus fleet.