Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct to note that An Bord Pleanála made a change to the terminal for metro north and has not allowed the depot to go ahead at Belinstown. However, he is not correct to suggest that a new railway order will be necessary. A planning issue must be dealt with for the depot. The NTA and the RPA have estimated that because of the way the planning permission is worded there will be approximately a six month delay. They hope to be in a position to have the matter out of the way in six months but it will have a knock-on effect. This will mean the actual construction will begin sometime in 2012 but it does not affect the commencement of the facilitating works, which must be carried out before the contractors come on site.

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