Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

Has the Minister approved the making available of funding for independent expertise for the residents concerned? His predecessor agreed this at a meeting between himself, the Taoiseach and local residents but the funding was not signed off and that is holding up the process, adding to the concerns in Drumcondra.

The crux of the issue is that the RPA published a route that maximised the use of open space in the Drumcondra area, gaining the support and trust of residents based on that route while, behind the scenes, it worked on a different route that minimised the use of open space and maximised the use of local residential areas for a different route, telling no one about its own preferred route and leaving the residents to believe the route was under open space, as was widely publicised.

The RPA has agreed in writing to the residents that it will review the matter with a view to maximising use of open space but continues with the preparatory drilling on its preferred route. It is rapidly losing the confidence of a largely elderly community in the Drumcondra area. Will the Minister talk to the RPA about this? Everyone wants metro north to proceed as quickly as possible but it must have the confidence of those directly concerned.

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