Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am aware that the two Luas lines to which the Minister referred, the link between the A and B lines and the B1 line, were well advanced long before Transport 21 was thought up, as were all of the projects mentioned. My concern centres on the projects which have not yet commenced but which have completion dates as part of Transport 21 that are looking increasingly unrealistic. For example, the first phase of the metro between Clondalkin and Tallaght is to be operational in four years' time and the full north-south metro link to the city centre, the airport and beyond that to Swords is scheduled to be operational in six years' time. The Minister would need to order the trams now to have them delivered in six years. Is it realistic to expect to have that project completed in time? If it is his intention to do so, what has happened to make it happen? Have the project teams been assembled? Is anybody driving the projects forward?

The Minister announced the setting up of the Dublin Transport Authority and the appointment of Professor O'Mahony as its head. However, the Minister had no thoughts on what the job entailed but instead asked Professor O'Mahony to come back in a few months and explain to him what it entails. Is Professor O'Mahony the person who is supposed to drive all of these projects? Is it realistic to expect them to be completed within the timescale outlined in Transport 21?

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