Dáil debates

Wednesday, 6 December 2006

3:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in signing the railway order for the Kildare route project. [41644/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for his failure to sign the Kildare rail order; when this will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41766/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 108 together.

I signed the railway order for the Kildare route project on 5 December 2006. I announced my decision to grant the railway order for the Kildare route project on 13 August 2006 in line with the recommendations of the inspector to the public inquiry into the project. The drafting of the order, however, has taken longer than anticipated to complete due to the need to take formal legal advice on several issues. This has now been done and both the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and I have signed the order.

I understand Iarnród Éireann has commenced enabling works and is proceeding with detailed design and procurement with a view to commencing the main works early next year. The project involves doubling the number of tracks to four, with two dedicated lines for commuter services and two dedicated lines for intercity and regional services. This will allow for more frequent running of commuter, regional and Intercity trains which compete for busy limited slots into Heuston Station. It will double peak service frequency from Hazelhatch to Dublin, serving all stations. It will also double peak service frequency between Dublin and Sallins, Newbridge and Kildare, and will continue to serve outer commuter towns, including Portlaoise, Athlone and Carlow. Overall the project will facilitate an increase in capacity on the line from approximately 11,000 to more than 36,000 passengers per day in each direction.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I welcome the fact that the Minister has finally signed the railway order for the Kildare route project. For the benefit of the gallery of Members behind the Minister, this project was to be completed by 2006 as part of the 2000-06 development plan. That deadline was announced before the last election, which makes me nervous. After the 2002 budget, the money for this project was pulled and frozen for two years. Will the Minister explain that this is not another election gimmick? On the eve of the next election, the Minister informs the House he has signed the railway order again. How many elections will we have to wait for before the Kildare-Hazelhatch to Heuston rail tracks are doubled?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted Deputy Stagg welcomes the impact the four-tracking of the railway line will have for his constituents. The railway order was applied for by CIE in October 2005 and the public inquiry ran from 24 January to February. The inspector's report was received in May and subsequently published and I announced the decision to grant the order in August. The enabling works and physical construction of the route have begun.

This is a key part of Transport 21 integration where the Dublin station interconnector will come into its own. The interconnector will allow electrified rail systems to run from north and south of Dublin. This will allow seamless running from the Kildare line from Heuston through to St. Stephen's Green and on to the new Docklands station. The four-tracking is a crucial part of bringing that capacity to reality.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Has provision been made for park-and-ride facilities so that the housing estates in the towns served by the line will not be full of commuter cars? How much money has been assigned for each year of the project? What is the completion date for it?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the figures with me but I am happy to forward them to the Deputy later. The enabling works have started and it is hoped to have the project completed in three years. Park-and-ride facilities will be made available with this project. I confirmed today that I made €5 million available last year for park-and-ride facilities in Dublin, but not one euro was drawn down by any of the local authorities, which is greatly regretted by me and everybody in Dublin.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is why we need a Dublin Transport Authority.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I urge local authorities and their members, particularly those from the parties opposite, to be more active in this regard.

Photo of Donie CassidyDonie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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It is the county managers appointed by Fianna Fáil who are in control. The Minister should stop codding us.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is difficult when the Minister of the day makes available a lot of money and the local authorities do not want it.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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The Minister will not back them either.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I, therefore, find some of the questions disingenuous.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister give the licences for the buses then?

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Will the Minister send me the information he does not have?

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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That would not be much.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Since the delay to the Kildare project was caused by the lack of staff in the Attorney General's office to draft the rail order, will the Minister outline the measures he has taken to ensure staff is available to avoid delays to other rail projects that have to go to the Attorney General's office for redrafting?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware that this was the problem. There were some legal issues around this order that had to be resolved.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It was the Minister's answer to a parliamentary question of mine.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Olivia Mitchell is correct that there is great pressure on the Attorney General's office and the legal system to deliver all that this great Government is implementing around the country. We try to keep up with all the needs.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister outline the measures he has taken to ensure there will be staff?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The measures are a matter for the Attorney General and his staff.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Is this joined-up government?

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Clearly not.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No. The Deputy and her colleagues are unable to understand that the four-tracking project in Kildare has started. It is, therefore, spurious to argue about it.

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I welcome the fact that the order has been signed and the enabling works are under way. There is already a car parking problem at Sallins and Hazelhatch stations. The car parking is insufficient and the overflows are out on the road. Is it possible to consider front-loading the car parking arrangements? The land take will happen anyway. Rather than have it as the last part of the project, would it be possible to make it one of the early parts of the project? It would make the current services more attractive to people. There is a serious problem.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, I have visited the areas along the route, including Hazelhatch. There is no consensus locally about the park-and-ride facilities. I am not expected to make a diktat from here. I urge that the local authorities and local communities agree where the park-and-ride facilities should be. If they do that, we can build it.

Photo of Donie CassidyDonie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The local authorities must do the job they are mandated to do in their local areas and not pretend it is my decision. I have funding, which I am willing to provide if the local authorities will make decisions instead of coming here and disingenuously passing the buck about projects the Government is willing to fund.

Photo of Donie CassidyDonie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.