Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I have many questions. If our witnesses do not get to answer any of them, I would appreciate it if they could send me an update.

The TII has said in its communications with me that it would welcome an opportunity to progress with a further feasibility study in conjunction with the Department and the NTA about the reform of current tolling arrangements on the M50. I want to check that the NTA is up for that. To be clear, I am asking for the impact of removing the toll on the M50, along with the impact of keeping it, to be considered. As part of this, consideration must be given to the financial impact on local communities around junctions 6 and 7, and the impact of toll avoiders on congestion in local communities. Also, going back to the 2014 report, I ask for an assessment on whether variable or multiple toll points are being considered.

In relation to road projects, is it the case there is not going to be an additional lane for cars within the N3 road project? It has been suggested that the extra lane is actually going to be a bus corridor.

In 2019, when I was a councillor, there was a non-statutory consultation for the Ashtown to the County Kildare border element of the Royal Canal urban greenway, which is in Dublin West. In January 2023, my colleague, Councillor Siobhan Shovlin, received correspondence to say that it was in preliminary design and the next stage would be the statutory process. An application was made to An Bord Pleanála in 2023. Now, in 2025, it is still in preliminary design. I ask for an update on that. Why has it taken so long?

Can we get an update on the disruption that MetroLink is going to cause to the Maynooth line? I do not expect an update today, given the time constraints. It is a great project, but people are really worried about the disruption and we need to communicate with them.