Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I welcome all the representatives of the State agencies and of the community groups here today. My initial response is that this a very exciting project and hugely important for the city for lots of reasons. It is good to note that there is a positive acceptance and a welcome for it despite the serious concerns people have. If anyone is listening in on live TV from rural Ireland they are probably flabbergasted at the size of this budget. It is a €3 billion estimate, and we know the nature of estimates, to provide 15 new railway stations and 3,000 additional park and ride spaces. One will be able to get from the north of Dublin down to Sandyford in 50 minutes. It took me six years before I could get a lift across the railway station in Charleville. This is not about the woes of rural Ireland but this example may put it into perspective.

It is a very familiar story. We have a major project, with big budgets for the overall good of a region, side by side with the legitimate concerns of a local community who very often find themselves frightened, defenceless and bewildered by what is going on around them. We have heard of how difficult it has been for the representatives to access information. That worries me. I have to say, and I am reluctant to be critical of State agencies, but I am a bit underwhelmed by the level of approach and contact and interaction that has been taking place to date.

How advanced is this preferred route? Let us come clean about this, are these agencies open for serious and meaningful change, in consultation with the groups that are here today? If the agencies are not, we might as well know about it and people might have to look at alternative ways forward. I always believe in dialogue and I would hope that what the presenters of this programme have said is true, and that they are open to and do want to talk, and want a meaningful interchange with the public. Otherwise this is a waste of time. I hope it is not written in stone. I suspect it is not, it is too big a project for that.

I really was impressed by the presentations made here today, a Chathaoirligh. I would be very familiar with Na Fianna; as a Kerryman we try to keep as good an eye as we can on the enemy. We know how all of the good Dublin clubs are progressing. I have tremendous time for Home Farm FC also. I know the area fairly well, having spent two years in the teacher training college in Drumcondra. I was particularly impressed by the contribution of Ms Meehan representing the residents' group, because it is a very special place. It is a quiet oasis, Glasnevin, with the Botanic Gardens, the graveyard and the canal. It is very special place with a particular history not just for the region but for the country. Ms Meehan makes a very strong case which I hope will be listened to.

My party leader has visited the area and taken an interest in this; he has appointed Deputy Lahart with a special remit for the Dublin area, and along with our local representatives, Councillor Paul Mc Auliffe and Mary Fitzpatrick, we have all been fairly well briefed on our side of the House and we are very much on the side of the community.

I do hope that the big body, which in this case is the developers, is prepared at this stage to get into serious discussions with the sports clubs, agus go háirithe leis na scoileanna, mar treaslaím dóibh as ucht an cháis ina bhfuil siad agus an cás a chuir siad romhainn inniu. It is clearly worrying for pupils staff and parents. Tá súil agam go mbeidh réiteach ar an bhfadhb, for the schools also.