asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date by the task force set up to establish a Dublin transportation authority; and when the recommended bus lines will be in operation in the city.

40.

asked the Minister for Transport if, in view of the increasing energy costs, his Department have considered the extension of the rapid rail electrification programme to include the underground proposals prepared by CIE; and, if so, if permission will be granted to CIE to prepare detailed plans of stages two, three and four of the programme as set out in their report.

41.

asked the Minister for Transport the number of times the task force on transport in Dublin have met; if they have made any recommendations; if any working parties have been established by the task force; if so, when they hope to begin to make specific recommendations in relation to each of the following: (i) traffic management; (ii) road construction; (iii) public transport; and (iv) the extension of the electrification of the suburban rail system to include the underground proposals as set out in the CIE report.

42.

asked the Minister for Transport when he expects to set up the transport authority for the greater Dublin area as recommended by the Report of the Transport Consultative Commission on Passenger Transport Services in the Dublin Area.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 to 42, inclusive, together.

The Dublin Transportation Task Force has met on six occasions. It assigned various duties to working groups and staff of my Department, and will be meeting from time to time to review progress.

The task force was given three responsibilities. Firstly, it was to take the necessary steps to implement the Government decision to establish a Dublin transportation authority. I indicated when announcing that decision in April last that I planned to have the necessary legislation enacted within about 18 months. Preparatory work on the Bill is entrusted to staff of my Department. An initial outline of some of the provisions has been circulated to other Departments which will have an input and further similar material is in preparation. The task force is working to the 18 months timetable I have announced.

Pending the establishment of the Authority, the task force was also given responsibility in the Dublin area for (a) traffic management and (b) the further evaluation of road and rail investment plans. The task force has established a working party to assist it in each of these two areas and these working parties have been meeting regularly.

In the traffic management field, the task force and the associated working party, known as the operations group of the task force, are implementing a strategy designed to reduce traffic congestion, particularly at peak hours, by encouraging a transfer of commuters from cars to buses. This is in line with the report of the Transport Consultative Commission. The first concern has been to improve the level of enforcement of parking regulations. In accordance with a recommendation of the task force, the number of traffic wardens is being increased from the present level of 60 part-time staff to the equivalent, between full-time and part-time staff, of 100 full-time staff. Recruitment of the extra wardens is taking place at present and I expect that they will be on duty within the next week or so. Additional Garda motor-cyclists are also being assigned to traffic duty.

The task force is also making progress with regard to improving public transport. I have accepted recommendations by the task force in relation to the introduction of bus priority measures and I expect that such measures will be introduced next year on the main arterial routes between the city centre and the suburbs of Rathgar, Rathfarnham, Blackrock, Whitehall and Artane. The schemes will be introduced on a phased basis, starting in the spring. It is desirable that the bus priority measures dovetail with the introduction of new buses in Dublin. CIE, who are represented on the operations group, plan to introduce over 500 new buses in Dublin in the period 1981 to 1983, about 190 of which will be introduced during 1981.

As regards the further valuation of road and rail investment plans in accordance with the recommendations of the Transport Consultative Commission, I have asked the task force to assess the alternative public transport systems set out in CIE's Dublin Rail Rapid Transit Study and the major road proposals for the Dublin area. The task force has set up a group of experts, drawn from the relevant bodies, to assist it in this exercise. The evaluation which I have assigned to the task force will help to establish the priorities in relation to investment in transport infrastructure in Dublin.