Major event transport planning
Deputy Boland called for a national framework for transport planning around concerts and major events, arguing poor connections deter attendance. The Tánaiste agreed congestion and lack of coordination are real problems and said the NTA is the relevant body.
Dublin is buzzing with headline gigs, from Katy Perry and Calvin Harris to CMAT and many more, as well as many sporting events. However, what we do not have is a national major event transport planning framework. We really need this. It is impacting on people's decisions on where to go. People from Skerries and Balbriggan simply will not go to Marlay Park any more because getting home is too difficult. Will the Tánasite please talk to the Minister for Transport and instruct him to require the NTA to pull together a planning framework? If necessary, it needs to be a condition of licensing that a transport plan, bringing together event organisers, venues, local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the transport operator, is co-ordinated by the NTA so that people know how they can get home.
Comment on this
This a great round of Questions on Policy or Legislation. We have gone from GAA pitches to concert events. The Deputy raises a very important point. It is great to see the level of activity and the concerts going on right across the country and particularly the city and county of Dublin. Deputy Boland is right; the joy can be somewhat taken out of that if there are real challenges in terms of traffic, congestion and a lack of co-ordination. I know that is an issue that can affect her own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, particularly during the summer months. As she said, the NTA is the organisation with statutory responsibility for pulling all of this together. There is significant collaboration between the NTA and all public transport operators, but I think she is right. There is an issue that needs to be resolved. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage directly with the Minister for Transport and others, and we will come back to her to see what more can be done.