Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue and the Minister for his attendance.

Obviously, this issue concerning the delivery of metro north to Dublin Airport and the capital of Fingal, Swords, is very close to my heart. It is of the utmost importance that the Government continue to prioritise that which the previous Government recommenced following our economic difficulties. The people of Dublin and especially my constituents in Dublin Fingal have been waiting a very long time for the delivery of this critical infrastructure.

Dublin is the only capital city in Europe without a rail link to the primary national airport. The precursor to this was not the metro north project of the mid-1990s but the rail link proposed by An Foras Forbartha in 1972; therefore, it has been 44 years in the waiting. It is very important that the new Government restate its intentions to deliver this project. Notwithstanding Brexit and the available fiscal space available to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we should perhaps even consider fast-tracking it in some way.

I am pleased that the new metro north service, as approved thus far, will have a journey time of approximately 31 minutes. Residents in Malahide who are 9.9 miles from the city centre as opposed to 9 miles for residents in Swords can travel that distance in approximately 26 minutes on the railway. Therefore, for the metro service which will serve more stations and facilitate more people in travelling to and from Dublin Airport and between Swords and the city centre, a journey time of 31 minutes will be acceptable to all. I had set my own personal target of 35 minutes, which, I am delighted to say, Transport Infrastructure Ireland has beaten by four minutes.

The 2011 census identified Fingal as having population growth four times higher than that in Dublin city. In the past two censuses Fingal was recognised as the fastest growing youngest environment not just in the Republic of Ireland but in Europe. Without the timely provision of the metro and the connection to Swords, an emerging city, the airport and the roads would be even more congested. Figures previously presented by TII suggested approximately 40 additional multi-storey car parks would be required in Dublin city centre alone to accommodate the growth in Dublin in the next ten to 20 years - I believe up to 2035.

I am glad that the new metro north service will have the potential to meet all of the capacity needs of Swords and Dublin Airport into the future. As the Minister, knows the Dublin Airport Authority is moving towards the delivery of a second runway and growth has now exceeded 25 million passengers on its single runway. One can imagine with the development in Swords and the airport's second runway, if it proceeds on time, that we will see an increased requirement for capacity in getting people to and from Dublin Airport. Some 65% of Dublin Airport users get there by bus and given the growth in demographics in Dublin, we need to ensure the users of Dublin Airport are given alternatives to road-based transport.

I was very pleased to have been with the previous Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, now the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, when he made the announcement at Heuston Station. I hope the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, will continue to engage with representatives from Dublin Fingal and the other constituencies along the proposed route in order to ensure the timely provision of this service.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue which I know is close to his heart. He has been a very staunch campaigner on this issue on behalf of the people of his constituency and will continue to be until metro north is completed. I hope the date for its completion will be earlier than anticipated, but, obviously, I cannot make any promise because it is dependent on the exigencies of the financial situation which is permanently, particularly now, in a state of uncertainty and flux. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to debate this issue in the House. It will be regarded as an important debate and will give an indication of the Government's thinking about what will happen in the future.

The programme for Government includes a commitment to proceed with the new metro north project and funding is provided in the Government’s capital plan, Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 to 2021, to facilitate construction of the link, commencing in 2021, with a view to delivery by 2026 or 2027.

It has long been accepted that there is a public transport deficit in the Dublin area generally and the Fingal area on the Swords-airport corridor, in particular.

Fingal is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. As the Deputy mentioned, the 2011 census recorded Fingal as having close to four times the population growth rate of Dublin city and almost twice the population growth rates of the other council areas in the Dublin region.

Plans for the original metro north and other major projects had to be deferred in 2011 as a result of the collapse in the economy. The Government is pleased to be in a position to commence plans to provide a major public transport project along the crucial corridor from Swords and the airport to the city centre. Following consideration of the Fingal and north Dublin transport study by the National Transport Authority last year and the recommendations of the authority arising from the study, the Government decided that a light rail link running underground from St. Stephen's Green through Ballymun, under the airport and on to Swords would be the optimum long-term public transport solution for this strategically important corridor. The funding constraints that applied when the capital plan was being developed and which continue to apply mean that we are not in a position to deliver everything required immediately. Our first priority must be to ensure we maintain the existing transport infrastructure at steady-state levels in order that it remains safe and fit for purpose after the significant period of under-investment during the fiscal crisis. The funding being provided in the capital plan for public transport investment will see us reach steady-state funding levels by 2020. In addition, funding is being provided to commence critical transport projects such as the new metro north project to meet growing demand. As set out in the capital plan, it is expected that construction of the new metro north project will commence in 2021, with a view to delivery by 2026 or 2027. The estimated cost of the project is approximately €2 billion, excluding VAT. If additional funding becomes available in the next few years, the project preparations being made will position us to make progress with the project in line with available funding.

The revised metro north option being progressed is a more affordable version of the original metro north proposal that had been envisaged prior to the economic and fiscal crises. As such, it should provide greater value for money for the taxpayer. It is important to note that all of the essential components and benefits of the original scheme are being retained. I understand the main cost reduction elements will be a reduction in the length of elevated structure as a result of greater surface running in Swords, one fewer city centre station as a result of the replacement of the O’Connell Bridge and Parnell Square stations with a single station on O’Connell Street, shorter vehicles in line with lower passenger forecasts and smaller stations with shorter platforms to match the reduced length vehicles. The revised lower cost metro north will be a 16.5 km light rail line, with 8.5 km of the route running in a tunnel from St. Stephen’s Green to Griffith Avenue and under the airport. It is proposed to have 14 stops on the line - eight above ground and six underground.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Minister's response which I had the benefit of reading in advance. I compliment the Minister and the Department on the level of detail in it. I never get this level of detail when I ask parliamentary questions and thank the Minister for it. I welcome his reference to the potential availability of further funds to accelerate the delivery of the metro north project. This may well occur with a little luck. The Minister hit the nail on the head when he spoke about linking with the spatial and planning strategies. The sustainable development of the north Dublin corridor is of paramount importance to Dublin City Council and, more appropriately, Fingal County Council which has many greenfield and brownfield sites to develop along the corridor. If the development goes ahead, the councils will have the ability to provide for a great deal of investment that will be of assistance in terms of job potential and community development in the coming years.

It is very important to recognise that the delivery of the metro north project is not just about getting people from A to B; it is also about creating communities and giving people in them the links to get from A to B. There is nothing worse for those living in the communities to which I refer than knowing it will take them 70, 80 or 90 minutes to get to Dublin city centre at peak times. That is the reality for people living in the north of the county and Swords. That is how long it takes to traverse the Malahide Road or the Drumcondra and Swords roads if one has to drive, which is the case in many of the examples brought to my office. While there are excellent bus services in the area in question, there is no comparison between a bus service and the service provided by a for-purpose singular vehicle when people are trying to get to and out of the city centre.

I noted with interest a couple of weeks ago the flying yet again by Iarnród Éireann of its kite about the provision of a heavy rail link to Dublin Airport. I ask Iarnród Éireann to allow the policymakers to make decisions on transport infrastructure in this country. Those involved with the company should focus on driving their trains and planning their strategies to keep the network up to speed and allow the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and his officials in the Department to get the job done.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Hear, hear. I agree with the Deputy's closing statement which we should all welcome on this side of the House. When State companies go walkabout, sometimes it is not particularly good for the general public. Representatives of State companies who engage in such behaviour are usurping the positions of politicians. I welcome what the Deputy has said and wish I had said it, but I am happy to agree with it.

The Deputy is absolutely correct when he says the proposed metro north project integrates well with spatial policies. I think that is the intention for the future of the project which integrates well with the existing and proposed public transport network of Dublin city. The National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of the new metro north project. A dedicated project steering group has been established. If additional funding becomes available in the next few years - I am not saying whether it will - the preparatory work being done will position us to make progress with the project in line with the available funding. I am trying to hold out some hope without making promises. The Government is committed to providing a metro link on the corridor from the city centre to the airport and Swords. This is clearly set out in the programme for Government and funding has been allocated for the preliminary planning and design of the project. It is envisaged that construction will start during the lifetime of the current capital plan, with the metro to become operational by 2026 or 2027. Metro north will be a vital piece of national infrastructure. It will respond to the needs of the emerging economy in the medium term and cater for the longer term public transport needs of this strategically important transport corridor.