Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The planning, design, implementation and maintenance of individual national road projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. I am required under the terms of the EU tunnel safety directive to transmit to the Commission a report from Ireland's tunnel administrative authority, the NRA, every two years setting out incidents that affect the safety of road users in tunnels. The first such report was submitted by me in September 2008 and covered the Jack Lynch and Dublin Port tunnels.

Two incidents were reported in the Jack Lynch tunnel and one in the Dublin Port tunnel. In all the reported incidents, the response by the Garda, fire brigade and tunnel staff ensured they were rapidly contained and dealt with in an appropriate manner. Subsequently, the tunnel operators examined all aspects of the incidents with a view to further optimising the appropriate safety procedures. The safety procedures in Ireland's tunnels are kept under continuous review. The NRA has not, and will not, allow the tunnels to be operated in circumstances, which could compromise the safety of the public. Any event that arises that could cause such a compromise results in the immediate closure of the tunnel and no risk then arises. While this causes inconvenience and disruption to traffic, it is essential to maintain the required safety standard.

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