Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The MetroLink on the southside has caused quite a bit of anxiety and a sense of injustice. Schools and residents did not have an opportunity to appear before the committee although those on the northside had. If an offer is made that impacts on one part of the city, all parts of the city should have an opportunity to appear before the committee. The MetroLink is like a Berlin wall running through certain areas of the southside.

According to TheIrish Times, the Merrion flyover is being shelved. I am waiting for a letter from Ms Graham outlining the factual position. The residents of houses which were to lose their gardens or to have flyovers beside them are no longer in a position to sell their houses or move on because there is no clarity on what is happening to their front gardens.

Ms Graham gave an indicative figure of 1,300 front gardens and parking spaces that would be lost in the bus corridor. More than 3,000 people feel they may be impacted by it. Auctioneers have been advising people whose homes were for sale that they have to inform interested parties that the front garden may be affected. Time is critical. There is an indicative line on the map for a bus corridor on Pigeon House Road which would take away 90 car parking spaces with no alternative. The owners of three or four one-bedroom cottages on that road who want to move to family homes and to have children cannot sell until there is some clarity. This is having an impact on families. I question how this is happening and its impact on many people.

What will the impact of the single bore tunnel be on the southside if the NTA decides to go ahead with that?

Will that allow the single bore tunnel to go further south underground instead of emerging on Charlemont Street, which would have a significant impact? Given the injustice that has been done to the communities on the southside and the lack of engagement by the NTA and this committee, because they have not received equal treatment, would the NTA meet representatives of the residents' groups on the southside to have a discussion during this period? We asked for an extension, which was refused. I can understand that but one of the reasons it was refused was that there was an undertaking to this committee that it would not extend the consultation period. That was disappointing because those residents and schools did not have that opportunity. This involves schools, residents and the demolition of homes.

I am a firm supporter of public transport, cycling and pedestrians, and have been since I got involved in politics. However, this must be done correctly and inclusively. Each part of the city must be treated in the same manner, but that is not happening. On many occasions people have received their information from the "Morning Ireland" programme, which is disappointing. In fairness, the NTA wrote to the garden holders in the case of the Merrion flyover at an earlier stage before there was a public announcement. However, the manner in which it has done this up to now has caused great confusion. With regard to the bus corridor and the metro, community groups have a great feeling of injustice due to the lack of consultation and engagement. They do not believe they have been treated in an equal manner with the northside. They attribute that to the statements made by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, at an early stage in the consultation. The public representatives on the southside have been quiet on this.

I ask the NTA to try to rebuild trust and engagement by meeting the community representatives on the southside so there can be proper engagement and equity of treatment, which has not been the case up to now.