Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Graham for the presentation. My only concern about the DART underground decision is to do with the decision making process itself. If we look back to 2010 when there was an initial cost benefit analysis done on DART underground, the business case suggested a 4.23:1 ratio when measured using the traditional cost benefit analysis - considered to be approximately a €13.3. billion return on investment over a 60 year period. This was using standard criteria for carrying out that benefit to cost ratio. When one factors in the figures from 2010 of the wider economic benefits of €4.7 billion, it generated a 5.38:1 ratio. When the Minister came to making a decision it appears that there had been some further work done by the National Transport Authority. I do not know whether this was done on its own initiative or at the suggestion of the Department or the Minister.

I would like the witness to take the committee through the process of how the authority revisited that cost benefit ratio. The Minister said it was a 1.5:1 ratio. Using the 2010 figures, where the sensitivity testing shows a worse case scenario of virtually no growth from 2010 and a 1.99:1 ratio, I am confused as to how the initial data gets transposed later and provides a different outcome. If we compare the baseline level of expected growth and activity in 2010, a period of economic uncertainty, to any analysis now it would show a much more positive outlook and envisage a potentially much greater benefit to cost. I would appreciate comment from the representatives on the business case reported in 2010 compared to the situation today.