Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Maybe I could give the Deputy a timeline. First, this current consultation phase will run until the end of May. The NTA and TII will then work on finalising a business case for submission to the Government. The Government must then approve the business case before it can progress to planning. The NTA then expects a railway order application by the second quarter of 2020. A statutory consultation process will be held by the board and, dependant on planning etc., construction is hoped to start in 2021.

This was not designed around the Cabinet table. Deputies, Senators, councillors and Ministers are entitled to their opinions as they represent a large number of people, but there has been a public consultation going on at various times and at various stages of this project. Indeed, members of the public, as other representatives, are entitled to contribute to that. No doubt they have done so in an orthodox and regular way.

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