Sir, In his letter of September 7th, Bobby Molloy, TD, misses the point. Of course everyone is entitled to comment on the transportation proposals for Dublin, and indeed such comments are welcomed. I also agree that many Dublin drivers are expert in the city's transport problem However, knowing what the problem is not enough it is necessary to find a solution.
Such solutions require expertise. Why else would the Government (of which Mr Molloy was a member) have commissioned international consultants, together with local experts, to carry out a detailed three year study which began in April 1991? This led to the formation of a 20 year strategy which provided such a solution incorporating an initial five year implementation programme an action plan which we have begun to implement.
LUAS can be installed without causing the chaos predicted by Bobby Molloy and others, and a detailed traffic management plan is being prepared to demonstrate this. The central objective of the DTI strategy is to make Dublin a better place to live, work and socialise in, and all proposals are assessed against this criterion.
In relation to the other criticisms regarding the "failure" to serve Ballymun and Sandyford, it surely must be clear that these plans have not been abandoned. We are in the process of implementing the first phase of the 20 year strategy in the programme, spanning 1994-99, and these extensions will be provided in later programmes. We have already begun to examine options for further expansion of the core LRT system, including further interconnections with the other public transport services and a rail link with the airport.
The DTI strategy is an ongoing process it is not just a once off project. Yours, etc Director chief executive, Dublin Transportation Office, Hainault House, 69-71St Stephen's Green,