Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Metro North is the long proposed, 18.8km part-underground system from Dublin city centre to Swords via Dublin Airport and it is critical for developing fixed-line connectivity in the greater Dublin area and the important, growing urban region of Swords. Therefore, at the start of the 31st Dáil, it is crucial to reiterate the Labour Party's and this Government's commitment to delivering this wonderful commuter rail project. It is the case that the vast bulk of the projected €34 billion Transport 21 expenditure has been spent on road projects to date, with very little on public and commuter transport.

Metro North is an exciting and much welcome development for my constituency, as it is for the Minister's, and for the whole of the Dublin and mid-Leinster region. It will also form part of a crucial new commercial corridor across Dublin's northside. Fingal County Council, in evaluating and supporting the project, has already published an impressive document,An Economic Development Strategy for the Metro North Economic Corridor, with a comprehensive plan for the economic and social development of all the Metro North area. Many business leaders in Dublin and Leinster have also been supportive of the project because of the infrastructural enhancements it will provide and its positive economic impacts. In addition, I understand that the cost benefit analyses of Metro North that were undertaken by the RPA and all five of the original bidders were very positive. The Government will shortly produce a jobs budget. In addition to enabling jobs in 2011 and 2012, Metro North will provide a desperately needed 7,000 construction jobs each year and up to 14,000 jobs in the wider economy. In general, previous research by the ESRI stated that in the long run GNP increases by €0.4 billion for every €1 billion spent on infrastructure.

Again, I congratulate Mr. Frank Allen, the chief executive of the Railway Procurement Agency for his and his staff's ongoing successful management of this project which culminated in the granting of permission for Metro North by An Bord Pleanála last October. An Bord Pleanála's railway order for Metro North did not accept proposals for a depot and ancillary facilities at Belinstown and a proposed line and stop at Lissenhall and these will necessitate a further planning application. In its judgment, however, An Bord Pleanála outlined a comprehensive series of proposals to accompany the Metro North project in order to address the serious concerns of local residents and small business people on the route. These included many proposed environmental and mitigation measures.

The planning permission for the key components of the project are in place and I understand there are two final bidders for Metro North, namely,Celtic Metro Group and the Metro Express consortia. A final decision on the successful bidder is to be made in April. Both final bidders have strong Irish-connected companies which should provide a significant boost to the Irish construction sector. The European Investment Bank has already approved loans of up to €500 million for the construction of Metro North. I ask the Minister to provide an update on the final bid process and on the status of the EIB loans.

Doubts have been raised over Metro North, given the current disastrous banking and economic crisis and the hysteria we faced before the recent general election. However, I believe it is essential to proceed with the project for transport connectivity and to maximise economic growth in the years ahead. When the permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála last October it was reported that €140 million had already been spent on the project and that enabling works for Metro North would cost a net €80 million in 2011, which I understand is covered in the Minister's transport budget.

I also understand that the first implementation payment would not incur until late 2012 or early 2013 at the earliest. As this is a public-private partnership project, the cost to the public purse following the initial implementation payments will be spread over several decades. Recently completed motorways and roads have repayment periods stretching to 2052.

I was informed by the former Minister, Noel Dempsey, that if all the Transport 21 road projects, the metro and the interconnector were delivered, repayments would eventually amount to a €600 million tranche each year in the transport capital budget. The suggested CPO costs that have been widely commented upon in the media for the development of the metro were significantly inflated in the pre-election hysteria.

An exceptionally strong case remains for strongly adhering with all the preparations to build Metro North and to ensure the current tendering and construction timetables are also adhered to. I urge the Minister and the Government to give total and unqualified support to metro north.

See this speech in context