Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

5. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the Dublin Area Rapid Transit underground project, the railway procurement order for which expires in September 2015; the revised options for the project he is considering; the new timeline proposed for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23838/15]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Some 28% of the population now live in Dublin. According to the last census, more people are living in Dublin than in Munster. We will keep on arguing for increased road capacity and car parks if we do not do something about public transport. The DART underground project would be a game changer, but the railway order runs out in September. It is important, therefore, that we know what the plan of action is.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that a decision on whether to proceed with the DART underground project under the current railway order must be made by September if the CPO conditions applicable to the order are to be met. The National Transport Authority has been carrying out technical reviews of all the greater Dublin area public transport projects and I am awaiting delivery of its report and recommendations.  It anticipates delivering this work to me by the end of June.  Following my receipt and assessment of it, I will make my decision on public transport investment priorities in the greater Dublin area by the end of the summer and in advance of the September deadline for issuing the CPO notices to treat relating to the DART underground project.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a very large and expensive project, but it would be a game changer. It was estimated that it would increase the number of passenger journeys by something like 100 million a year. It would be a driver of the recovery of the capital city in efficiency terms. When the rules changed regarding how EU funding would be allocated in the mid-1990s, it was based on themes. One of the reasons we have the Luas and other public transport projects is the Government made an argument that Dublin was inefficient as a result of congestion. It is now estimated than in the next five or six years an additional 50 million extra people will travel in and out of the city every day. We are back to the futureand there is a point at which a decision has to be made on this issue. Perhaps European funds could be leveraged for the project.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's latter point, I expect that once we decide on the projects to be progressed in the short to medium term, we will be able to apply for and, I hope, receive European funding for such projects as happened in the case of similar projects in the past. Public transport projects are under way, including the Luas cross-city project which has been in receipt of support from European bodies.

As it was designed, this project would have a major impact on the ability of the rail network to perform within Dublin, Leinster and along the east coast. The Deputy has made reference to the potential cost, which would be many billions of euro. The decision I have to make involves weighing up that cost versus the cost of meeting other transport needs. I need to consider whether we could do other things in the existing rail network that would increase capacity and whether we should examine alternatives such as light rail, not to mention road project options such as those mentioned by Deputy Timmy Dooley in other parts of the country.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I presume congestion costs form part of what the Minister is considering in terms of the overall picture and the decision he will have to make. We will all make arguments about how much longer it takes to get from A to B. When one factors in goods and services, one finds that using the roads becomes very inefficient as they are clogged up with people who have no reason to be on them. We need to move people from them, not just cars, vans and trucks. Dealing with the movement of people is the real missing link in the capital city and has been for a very long time.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is precisely because we want to make a contribution to making it easier for people to get around that we are funding and putting in place Luas Cross City. It will deliver an additional 10 million journeys per year on our Luas network to take the number from approximately 30 million to approximately 40 million. While that will make a contribution to movement within the city, the Deputy is also asking me about how we get people to the city. Of course, that is why a project like Dart underground could make a significant contribution to increasing substantially the capacity on our rail network by allowing more services to run to our main city centre train stations.

While the Deputy is correct that congestion is imposing a growing cost on the economy, of which I am well aware, the hard funding must be secured to deliver projects. While this is a project that would make a contribution as currently designed, it has an associated cost of many billions of euro and, as such, I must weigh it up directly against, for example, the road project Deputy Catherine Murphy was pressing me for earlier to support the growth of the Millennium Business Park. We have to make choices about what can be done.