COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

MOTION NO.60

MOTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

This motion relates to Chapter 7: Sustainable Movement, Submission SD-C195-19 on page 672 (or 669) of the report. Amend SM3 Objective 7 to add at the end of this objective the following words 'and also examining the feasibility of linking the red and green Luas lines at a strategic location to be determined, such as between Tallaght and Sandyford, to increase public transport links and permeability in Dublin Southwest' Reason: To optimise transport routes for the Dublin Southwest area which would greatly alleviate traffic congestion and associated traffic pollution

REPORT:

The Motion seeks to amend SM3 Objective 7 by adding additional wording to read: 

From: To support and encourage the NTA in investigating high-capacity public transport solutions for Dublin south-west, including examining the feasibility of Metro and/or Luas, serving areas including Ballyboden, Ballycullen/Oldcourt, Firhouse, Kimmage, Knocklyon, Rathfarnham, South Tallaght, Templeogue and Terenure. 

To: To support and encourage the NTA in investigating high-capacity public transport solutions for Dublin south-west, including examining the feasibility of Metro and/or Luas, serving areas including Ballyboden, Ballycullen/Oldcourt, Firhouse, Kimmage, Knocklyon, Rathfarnham, South Tallaght, Templeogue and Terenure and also examining the feasibility of linking the red and green Luas lines at a strategic location to be determined, such as between Tallaght and Sandyford, to increase public transport links and permeability in Dublin Southwest'.  

Chapter 7 Section 7.3 details the overarching policies and objectives of the Draft Plan with policy SM1 seeking to Promote ease of movement within, and access to South Dublin County, by integrating sustainable land-use planning with a high-quality sustainable transport and movement network for people and goods. Under this policy SM1 Objectives 1 and 7 are of particular note:  

SM1 Objective 1: To achieve and monitor a transition to more sustainable travel modes including walking, cycling and public transport over the lifetime of the County Development Plan, in line with the County mode share targets of 15% Walk; 10% Cycle; 20% Bus; 5% Rail; and 50% Private (Car/Van/HGV/Motorcycle). 

SM1 Objective 7: To engage with relevant agencies including the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in relation to strategic and local transportation issues including delivery of transport projects and to encourage consultation with local communities. 

Section 7.6 of the Draft Plan further states that in order to encourage a significant modal shift to public transport, the Council will continue to work with the NTA, the statutory authority responsible for long term strategic transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area to focus on the delivery of:  

• Orbital public transport services linking major centres and areas of employment such as Tallaght, Clondalkin and Liffey Valley and further linking to other parts of the Greater Dublin Area;  
• Additional and extended public transport routes to service newly developed and developing areas, and existing areas where gaps in services exist;  
• Transport hubs, to connect services (such as between orbital and radial routes and/or core and feeder routes) and form a ‘web’ like network; à Improved access to public transport stops and services;  
• Improved integration between higher density forms of development and public transport nodes.

Section 7.6.2 ‘Rail’ under the heading Metro/Luas to Dublin Southwest the Draft Plan also states that the Council will continue to engage with the NTA, in the context of the review of the GDA Transport Strategy, regarding public transport options for Dublin south-west including the feasibility of Metro and/or Luas to serve the area. 

In this regard the transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 is being updated as part of a 6-year review and that a Draft Strategy to 2045 has just finished Public Consultation. The provisions set out in the plan aim to optimise public transport solutions which will facilitate a transition away from car-based travel. Such measures are underpinned in the Draft Plan under section 7.4 where Travel Mode Share targets have been set for the County.  

In regard to the review of the strategy South Dublin County Council are engaging with the NTA and inputting into this strategy and will work with the NTA in order to identify high-capacity public transport solutions for the entire County. 

Having regard to the above it is considered that the motion can be adopted with minor amendment.  

CE Recommendation:  

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment such that SM3 Objective 7 reads:  To support and encourage the NTA in investigating high-capacity public transport solutions for Dublin south-west, including examining the feasibility of Metro and/or Luas, serving areas including Ballyboden, Ballycullen/Oldcourt, Firhouse, Kimmage, Knocklyon, Rathfarnham, South Tallaght, Templeogue and Terenure and the feasibility of linking the red and green Luas to maximise public transport links and permeability in Dublin Southwest'.