James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before I get into the substantive matter, I congratulate the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, on his appointment. I was a constituent of his in his previous role as a Trinity Senator when he did us proud. I wish him well.

I commute from Kildare and represent commuters from north Kildare and wider commuter belt constituencies. It was with concern, shock and dismay that I greeted the recent announcement of the greater Dublin area 30 year transport strategy. I appreciate that the Minister was not in his new position at the time and cannot be blamed for the details of the plan. However, the Government must accept responsibility for its announcement and the programme was not debated in the Dáil. I acknowledge that there was a hiatus at the time, but this is a substantial transport investment programme to be implemented over 30 years. Of greatest concern is that it appears to contain little reference to what previously would have been considered the linchpin of the entire strategy - the interconnector tunnel. This is the missing link in the greater Dublin area transport system and the nation's transport system because it would be our circle line, the line that would connect the north, west, south and east. It would connect Pearse, Connolly and Heuston railway stations. For several years there was much ado about the two Luas lines not connecting. However, far less has been said about the two central railway lines into the city not connecting and which have been operated for over a century. This is of major concern.

The transport strategy, as published, contains within the 60 page document one clause in parentheses referencing the possibility of a tunnel. There is a map included in the appendix. If one traces carefully enough with a magnifying glass, one can make out what may or may not be a tunnel. I am seriously concerned about whether the tunnel has been scrapped, dropped from the plan or whether it is still included. Being such a central piece of the strategy, the question must be asked why it has not been included.

I shall put into context the need for thie tunnel to connect the two railway lines. Commuters using the Kildare lines - I use them on an almost daily basis - as well as commuters from further south and the south west, from Portlaoise, Kilkenny and Waterford, and the large volume of commuter traffic from Newbridge, Sallins, Naas, Celbridge and Hazelhatch and on all the lines and stations in between must disembark at Heuston Station. They must then travel onwards on foot to connect with the Luas. The Luas has been a welcome development, but it is still another mode of transport. Commuters must then travel on the Luas line in the direction of Connolly Station and get off and walk or cycle to make their onward journeys via other modes of transport. At the very least commuters must use three connections to get to wherever they want to go. The majority wish to travel to the city centre or to the southside of the city which is where most employment centres are located. For anybody travelling across country, in making national or regional journeys, the problem, again, especially for elderly people and those with luggage, etc., is that they must make criss-cross journeys using the train and the Luas.

The tunnel was previously the linchpin of the Transport 21 strategy. Some €40 million was spent on research and feasibility studies, all of which confirmed that this would be a worthwhile project. The cost-benefit return would very significant, despite the large cost of the project. This was without factoring in the capital and economic stimulus during construction. The ratio was 4.23:1, or to keep it simple 4:1, using the traditional cost-benefit analysis. It is amazing to see an infrastructural project of such importance to the capital city, the greater Dublin area and commuters on the Kildare and other lines, apparently, being dropped from the plan.

Perhaps I am pre-empting the Minister's response, but I am aware that the Phoenix Park tunnel is to be opened later this year. It is a welcome development but by no means is it a substitute for the interconnector DART underground service. The Phoenix Park tunnel will connect the Kildare line with Connolly Station and possibly Pearse Station, but it will not fill the gap in terms of the provision of a circle line. Most other capital cities in Europe and around the world, in countries apparently less developed than Ireland, have such a circle line. It is a normal part of public transport infrastructure. I seriously impress on the Minister the need to re-evaluate this project. If it is not contained within the transport plan - it is not apparent from the document that it is - I ask him to please include it. It is a critical project, not just within the commuter belt but for the nation as a whole. It would probably be the most important public infrastructural project in the next decade, if not the next century. I prevail on the Minister to reconsider it and place it at the centre of public transport planning in the next Dáil term.

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