Clean air tax to fund light rail extension proposed

THE imposition of a "clean air tax" of 1p per litre on petrol would raise enough revenue to fund the construction of all four recommended light rail transit (LRT) lines in Dublin, a workshop on transport options for the city was told yesterday.

Mr Ciaran Cuffe, transport spokesman for the Green Party, said the tax would generate £10 million per annum and this could be used to provide an LRT service to Ballymun, Finglas and Tallaght, as well as extending the Dundrum line to Sandyford.

Mr Howard Knott, a transport commentator, called for the DART to be extended to Dublin Airport.

Stressing the urgency of a port access route, Mr Jimmy Quinn, of the Irish Road Haulage Association, said his members had no desire to clog up city-centre streets.

Mr Joe Jones, a senior executive of Dublin Port, said it was clear the proposed port tunnel would not be completed until 2003 "at the earliest". He was concerned that no action was being taken to ease congestion on an interim basis.

Mr Derry O Leary, of Dublin Bus told the workshop - organise by the Chartered Institute of Transport - that more restrictions on traffic were needed to facilitate public transport.