Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I was listening to the Minister's discussion on metro south. I was very glad that last week the Taoiseach, in answering questions about the project, indicated that the Government would be willing to consider alternative route options, possibly including one to University College Dublin and Sandyford. I know representatives of the NTA, at a committee discussion of the matter last week, indicated it would require some sort of direction from the political system for it to activate that, as the authority is constrained by its regulatory system. It would have to wait for another review of the whole Dublin transport strategy, leading to a delay of two or three years, which we cannot afford. I am keen to find out how the Department and the Minister might be able to support that consideration of alternative alignments by assisting the NTA or giving direction that it may need to allow it in a timely manner.

See this speech in context