Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with growing traffic volumes in the greater Dublin area; and the specific measure he intends to take to deal with growing traffic chaos. [6436/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I recognise that there is a growing body of evidence emerging of increased travel demand across the Dublin region in particular, with growing traffic levels on many of the region's roads and streets. The welcome increase in the number in employment has impacted on transport, not only through the beginning of a recovery in public transport numbers, but also through increased car use and re-emergence of peak period congestion. As Dublin City Centre is the target destination of many of the journeys being undertaken in the region, there is a substantial degree of congestion evident at many locations on the road network approaching the city.

Insofar as congestion issues in Dublin are concerned, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has overall responsibility for the implementation of their published Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. My Department is in close contact with the NTA about addressing travel demand growth in the Dublin Region with a view to intensifying efforts to combat congestion in the short to medium term through greater use of bus priority, demand management and other alleviating measures.

I expect this work will help me strengthen the case for increased public transport investment, as part of the Mid-Term Review of the Government's Capital Plan in 2017. I must emphasise that a step change in the funding of public transport is required if we are to deliver and maintain a well-functioning transport system that will cater for increased travel demand, deliver modal shift and support economic recovery.