Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The National Roads Authority would not allow the tunnel to be operated in circumstances that would compromise the safety of the public. As the Deputies will know, the Minister for Transport is responsible for policy and funding matters relating to the national road element of Transport 21. However, the detailed planning, design and implementation of all aspects of individual road improvement schemes, including the safety related aspects of the Dublin Port tunnel, are, under the Roads Act, a matter for the National Roads Authority and the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council.

Due to this statutory position, neither I nor the Minister, nor his Department, has seen the report in question, which I understand was discussed on a recent "Prime Time" programme. However, I am satisfied that the National Roads Authority would not allow the port tunnel to be operated in circumstances that would compromise the safety of the public.

I understand from the NRA that the report referred to in the "Prime Time" programme concerned tests carried out in March, April and May this year by EGIS Tunnels, the parent company of the tunnel operator, at the request of Transroute and the National Roads Authority, to help ensure that all problems associated with the tunnel's Scada control system were comprehensively identified. This is not new information, it was known far earlier in the year.

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