Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Transport if additional public expenditure is requested or planned for the Dublin Port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32959/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. However, under the Roads Act 1993, the implementation of individual national road projects and the allocation of funding for the construction or maintenance of such projects are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The construction of the Dublin Port tunnel project was procured by Dublin City Council and funded through the NRA. I understand from the NRA that the estimated final outturn cost of the tunnel remains at €751 million. The twofold purpose of the port tunnel and the heavy goods vehicles, HGV, management strategy which goes with it is to improve the flow of goods to and from Dublin Port and to remove heavy goods vehicles from the streets of the city. To date, good progress has been made on both of these objectives.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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There is serious concern regarding the cost of the port tunnel project in view of the several significant changes that have been made by the NRA. These changes have not been identified individually to me but there are clearly cost implications. They arise as a consequence of an internal report compiled by the port tunnel operators, EGIS, which indicated the existence of serious issues regarding the safety performance of the tunnel, relating specifically to the Scada system. Has the architecture of the Scada system been redesigned and replaced? Have unsuitable computer components been replaced? Has the capacity of the Scada system to respond in a safe and correct manner to emergencies been reconfigured and, if so, what has been the cost of this change? The fundamental issue is safety. I understand the Minister has responsibility to issue a safety audit directly to the European Union.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility to report to the European Commission in regard to the safety of this and other tunnels. I have not taken over any safety functions in regard to the tunnel itself other than to make that report. The most recent of these reports was submitted to the EU on 25 or 26 September.

The issues to which the Deputy refers were the subject of publicity in the recent past. They are a matter for the NRA and the companies concerned. The Deputy is correct that the Scada system had to be repaired and replaced. Most of the work identified as necessary in the EGIS report has been completed and the safety system is working well. I am assured by the NRA that it will at no time allow the safety of tunnel users to be compromised in any way. That is its paramount concern. Whenever a safety issue arises, the first recourse is to ensure there is nobody in the tunnel and that it is blocked off. Deputy O'Dowd and I have made that discovery from time to time.

In regard to the specifics of what is happening with the Scada system, I understand it is a contractual matter. I am not aware of any request for additional public expenditure on that basis.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Did the report to which the Minister referred involve an independent audit or was it an in-house report? Will he publish it or offer us a brief summary of its findings? Is he absolutely satisfied there are no safety issues in regard to the operation of the tunnel, particularly in terms of the Scada system? That system cost €30 million to install and the evidence of the internal report suggests it is entirely unsuitable for the operation of a tunnel system.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The report, which was completed last March or April, identified improvements needed to the Scada system. My understanding is that almost all the problems highlighted have been dealt with on the basis of the report as part of the upgrading of the system. In regard to the report submitted by my Department to the European Commission, it is a matter for the latter as to whether it is published. I presume that will happen at some stage.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister make the report available to the House?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot do so. It is for the Commission to decide whether it is published.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Will he provide a summary of the findings?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The main point is that the port tunnel is deemed to be safe, as is the Jack Lynch tunnel. The report also provides a summary of all incidents and how they were handled.