Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Rail Network

9:30 am

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If I may go back to one of the earlier questions the Deputy posed to me on the conjecture on the option for the northside of Dublin city that I did not fully answer, I have not given an indication to anybody regarding what that plan will be because I have not brought it to Cabinet. I will only make an announcement regarding what the plan will be when I have secured Cabinet approval. While I have been approached by many as to what the plan will be, I will make that announcement with the Government when the Cabinet has approved it. Then I will answer questions in this House, and elsewhere, about the plan.

On the Deputy's question on the business case, the NTA re-evaluated the business case in light of the new economy in which we find ourselves. It published this business case on its website yesterday afternoon. The consequence of its re-evaluation is that the positive cost-benefit appraisal that the Deputy quoted earlier has now changed. In light of what has happened in the economy, the tunnel itself - information which is in the public arena - has a cost-benefit ratio of 0.8 and the overall project has one of 1.4. That business case, which has been published and is available for all to see, formed the core of the decision I made.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.