Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Broughan for giving me the opportunity to deal with the issue this afternoon. As the Deputy is aware Metro North was included in Transport 21 as a key element of an integrated public transport strategy for Dublin. It is the spine of an integrated network connecting the proposed DART underground, existing suburban rail lines, existing and future Luas lines, the proposed metro west, Dublin Airport and the bus network. The 2011 programme for Government makes clear that this Government specifically supports the expansion in range and frequency of high capacity commuter services, subject to cost-benefit analysis and the availability of both Exchequer and private finance. I am therefore examining the major projects in my Department's capital budget which arise from the previous Government's national recovery plan to establish which can proceed. I am now reviewing Metro North, including the updated business case. This review will have regard to the overall cost and benefits, including the contribution in the short, medium and long term to transport objectives, its impact on investment and development in the corridor, as well as its employment creation potential.

Notwithstanding short-term disruption to the city, metro is exactly the kind of transport infrastructure I would like to see in our capital city linking our suburban towns, airport, universities and major hospitals. To proceed, however, we must be sure of the availability of several billion euro in private money under a PPP agreement, up-front Exchequer funding of well over a billion euro during the course of this Government and the State's capacity to repay the PPP contractor considerable sums of money every year for the next 30 years. I must of course also have regard to other projects in the context of overall priorities and the funding allocation. Once this review is complete I will bring the matter before the Cabinet infrastructure sub-committee so that a clear decision can be made as to whether this project will proceed in the immediate future or be postponed.

The programme for Government also proposes the drafting of a new national development plan covering the seven years from 2012 to 2019. The plan will be based on a comprehensive study of Ireland's public investment priorities over that period, with a particular emphasis on job creation and taking into account the realities of funding availability.

I acknowledge the work undertaken over a number of years in bringing Metro North to the current position. The procurement of Metro North as a PPP project, which commenced in 2008, is ongoing. In June 2009, the Railway Procurement Agency shortlisted two consortia, Celtic Metro Group and Metro Express, to proceed to the final stage of the PPP procurement process. A railway order has been secured and work is well under way for the main planning application for the depot, as mentioned by Deputy Broughan. The European Investment Bank has committed to supporting the project with a loan of up to €500 million.

I also know significant work and consultation have taken place with local authorities and business interests on planning, development and how to undertake the works while keeping the city open for business. In my review I want to assure the Deputy that I will have full regard to the benefits of Metro North, especially that it will carry in excess of 36 million passengers annually at peak; shorten the journey time from Swords in my constituency to the city centre considerably; link universities, hospitals, key retail and employment centres in the city centre, as well as Dublin Airport; generate approximately 4,000 direct jobs and thousands of spin-off jobs; connect with Connolly to Maynooth line and Luas lines to Dundrum and Cherrywood; and act as a catalyst for significant inward investment in the Metro North economic corridor stretching from Ballymun to north of Swords, including Dublin Airport.

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