Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated completion date for metro north; if he has been informed of or has been in discussions on potential substantial changes to the design plans for metro north, including the proposed underground sections; the impact such changes will have on the current tendering and planning processes for metro north; if he has been briefed by the Railway Procurement Agency on this matter; if other changes are planned for critical Transport 21 investment in 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32685/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There have been no substantial changes to the design plans for metro north, nor are any under consideration by the Government. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, placed copies of the railway order application on display on 17 September in accordance with the six-week statutory public notice requirement pursuant to section 37 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. This application defines all the principal elements of the project, including the proposed alignment, underground sections and station locations.

The Railway Procurement Agency continues to make good progress on the public private partnership, PPP, tender process for metro north. The initial phase of the PPP public procurement process was conducted in 2007, resulting in the formation of four pre-qualified consortia for the purpose of tendering for the project. Tender documentation was formally issued to the four pre-qualified consortia on 12 May 2008. Since then the RPA has held a number of meetings with the consortia. Following on from a request from some of the consortia, the RPA recently agreed to extend the closing date for submission of tenders by two months. Receipt of tenders is now required by 6 February 2009.

The target date for the completion of metro north is 2013 but that is dependent on the outcome of the planning and procurement processes. A final decision on the project will be taken by the Government once the planning and procurement processes are complete. The Government remains committed to the implementation of the metro north project, which is contained in the Transport 21 strategy to transform the public transport system in the greater Dublin area.

With regard to the wider Transport 21 investment, several national road and public transport projects that are currently under construction will be completed in the next two years. The start and completion dates of projects that have not yet commenced will be determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate. The commencement dates for these projects will also be influenced by the time taken for public consultation, the relevant statutory process and the procurement and contract award processes.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Constituents in north County Dublin will be concerned by the Minister's statement that "no substantial changes" to the metro north plan are envisaged. The Minister for Finance's comments during the summer on the importance of assessing value for money have given rise to grave concerns. There is a general understanding of the need to assess the costs of all infrastructural projects, but comments by the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, suggested he was less than committed to the project.

Will the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, offer a categorical guarantee that the railway order, as publicly presented, for a metro line of 18 km running from north of Swords to St. Stephen's Green will go ahead as planned and as close as possible to the timetable? That is the assurance people seek. The Minister has said there will be no substantial changes to the project. Can he offer an assurance that the plan will not be altered so that instead of a metro system, we are given a right rail system, super busway or something else? Can the Minister guarantee there will be no scaling back in this regard?

What costs have been expended in 2008 in regard to the metro project? What will happen in 2009 and into 2010 and 2011 in regard to planning costs? As I understand it, the four applicants who now have until 21 February 2009 to submit the first tenders have all budgeted on the basis the "big dig" will start in late 2011. Has the Minister discussed this project with his Green Party colleagues? Has he had a specific discussion with the Minister for Finance? Has the Minister called on the Railway Procurement Agency to discuss any possible changes to the metro north project?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The word substantial in the reply was directed at answering the concerns raised by the article to which the Deputy, rightly, adverts, whereby someone decided that the metro project was going to turn into some kind of light rail project or something else. There is no truth to any of this and I can give the assurance the Deputy seeks. The project will go ahead as per the Railway Order with whatever changes are made by An Bord Pleanála, subject at all times to a cost-benefit analysis that will, necessarily, be done at the end. This happens with all major projects. If the Deputy is asking would I settle for a half-baked Luas or rapid bus transit system instead of the metro, the answer is "No". Such a system would be a waste of taxpayers' money. It would not be a waste of as much taxpayers' money perhaps, but it would be a waste nonetheless. The reason a metro was chosen and the reason the underground proposal was originally chosen for the metro system was to ensure we could get up to 20,000 passengers per hour travelling in either direction at peak times. That is what is required as the population of the north Dublin area could reach 500,000 or 600,000 by 2020.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Does the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, agree that the kind of speculation and alleged leaks regarding serious changes to, or the termination of, the project are damaging to the process? As the Minister is aware, by the time the number of bidders is reduced to two tenders, very significant spending will have taken place. The Minister has given no indication of RPA spending in this area throughout the tendering process, which is a key factor. Already, State expenditure is underway.

Has the Minister discussed the matters outlined in the environmental impact statement, EIS, with Dublin City Manager, Mr. John Tierney, who, the Minister says, is the man in charge of the "big dig"? The EIS, which can be studied in Fingal Council and Dublin City Hall, includes such issues as the removal of Dan O'Connell's statue and various other changes necessary for the "big dig" to take place. Has the Minister spoken to the city manager and asked for a scoping programme through the digging?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I will go through the various questions. Deputy Broughan asked in the previous set of supplementary questions about the Green Party. My Green Party colleagues have been most supportive of this project. The have strongly expressed the need to move forward with this project, which I appreciate.

Regarding speculation, the Deputy raised a similar question before the summer. In our exchange then I said speculation could damage the tendering prospects. I agree that speculation and the kind of stories that have been fed, from whatever source, could damage the tendering process, especially at this sensitive time. Spending is ongoing and provision will be made in the Estimates for what the RPA believes is necessary to spend on this project in 2009.

On the final point, as recently as this week and on a quarterly basis I engage with all the agencies, including the CIE companies, the Garda, Dublin City Council, Dublin City Business Association and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on the roll-out of the plan to ensure the city is kept going.