Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

It has been reported that expenditure on metro north to end September was approximately €134 million, including legal fees. Is that the position? Is the Government wobbling on metro north, one of the flagships, after the inter-urban routes, of Transport 21? The process is well under way in terms of the railway procurement order and there remains only two bidders involved, Celtic Metro and Metro Express. What level of funding to progress this development would be required in the forthcoming budget and the next three or four budgets? Will such funding be relatively small? Also, is funding for metro north ringfenced?

Can the Minister tell us, as we head into 2010 and on towards the 2015 deadline, which projects are or might be postponed? For example, what will happen in respect of the electrification of the Maynooth line, Kilbarry Station on the Cork-Blarney line, the Luas power upgrades and the upgrade of the Dublin-Maynooth and Cherry Orchard-Inchicore lines? There are a range of projects across the country about which people are now concerned given the fiscal crisis. These projects which would greatly enhance public transport are now in doubt.

The Minister recently opened the first phase of the Navan line. However, the Navan line needs to go to Navan. Is there widespread belief within Government that it is not going to be able to deliver on many projects, including metro north?

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