Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the matter of the DASH project, which relates to the mobility access works being carried out at DART stations throughout Dublin. Initially, the contractors working for Iarnród Éireann promised that the work on the south side of Dublin would be carried out in one tranche within a nine to ten-month period. We were told that following a long public consultation period. As a public representative I co-operated with that consultation as I understood the important nature of the works. However, it emerged soon afterwards that a second tranche would be required.

Needles to say, people living on the south side of the city were badly inconvenienced but nobody complained much because they understood that a great public amenity was being provided. They understood the advantage for public transport and the inconvenience was borne well by everybody. When it was announced that a second tranche was required, we naturally wanted to know why. It has since emerged that the reason for the closures, which are to take place at weekends on the south side of the city in June, July and August, is the failure by some group of people in Iarnród Éireann to recognise the need for planning permission with regard to building works on bridges associated with southside DART stations. We are being asked to accept that the cost of this public failure is to be met from the pockets of private traders, people who will lose business. Blackrock, Dalkey, Sandycove and Dún Laoghaire will also lose, for the second time, the tourist trade which arrives into those villages throughout the summer.

We understand the value of the public amenity to be provided, which will ensure wheelchair access to the DART service. Unfortunately, nobody has been straight with the people affected. Nobody has been clear with regard to what is causing the delays. It now emerges that there is a possibility of a third closure, which is why I raise this matter in the Dáil. If there is no guarantee that this third closure will not take place and that the work will be completed in June, July and August, I support the view that the work should be postponed until perhaps February of next year. It is unacceptable to have this situation arising over and over again.

This situation arises because An Taisce has appealed the granting of planning permission by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and An Bord Pleanála will not have a decision until next September. It is only then that the work can be carried out. I have not had a clear answer from Iarnród Éireann as to whether it will be able to carry out the works during the 13 weeks referred to or whether it will have to resume the work again at Christmas. It is seriously asking us to tolerate closure of the DART during the Christmas period, the peak shopping season. This is devastating, for a third time, and is due to a public failure to acknowledge and recognise that there will be a planning permission requirement.

I ask the Minister to take control of what is going on. The Minister is not getting the facts from Iarnród Éireann. An Taisce is wrong-minded in the appeals it has made in this area. It should never have made those appeals because these matters have already been decided by An Bord Pleanála. All the issues I have raised, and the grounds of appeal made to An Bord Pleanála, were well ventilated before. The only reason that permission has been sought for a second time is that Iarnród Éireann recognised that the plans did not comply with part M of the building regulations.

An Taisce has no business in making its appeal. I have asked it to withdraw its appeal and to let the work be carried out. It will clearly not do that so I ask the Minister to take control of the issue. He is not getting the facts from the interested parties. I ask the Minister of State to support my view that the work should be put back until the new year unless a guarantee can be obtained that the work will be done in 13 weeks.

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