Results 8,141-8,160 of 26,037 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: A virgin rail track would cost approximately €1 billion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Higher than what?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, but, with due respect, it is nowhere near the Minister's figure of €3 billion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Even if it costs €100 million, it is value for money, as far as I am concerned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the Minister is using the €3 billion figure, he must substantiate it. I have looked at the figures-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: With due respect, the figures are out there. It will cost, at the most, €10 million per kilometre. That is €900 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Even with inflation, it might cost €15 million per kilometre, which would be €1.3 billion or €1.4 billion in total. That is way short of the Minister's figure of €3 billion. Finally, he spoke about not prejudicing the outcomes of projects. TII is doing the M20 and the NTA is doing the Limerick metropolitan area transport strategy, LMATS. He mentioned the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: But the Minister has not spoken about electric cars today. I would like to see the roll-out of electric cars expedited.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept all that, but motorways are required. We must be serious about balanced regional development. Some 42%, or 38 km, of the existing M20 has no hard shoulder. I have driven that route countless times and, I am sorry but it is a dangerous route. There are a significant number of fatalities on the route. There are other issues. I ask that TII and the NTA be allowed to continue with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The difference is that I do not believe motorways, rail and roads are mutually exclusive. The Minister spoke about roads. Roads are about public transport as well. For whatever reason, the Minister's view appears to be a binary one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will come back-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are moments in time where, when we do not grab an issue, such as the M20, the moment passes by and regions are left at a major loss relative to Dublin and the eastern region. We are entitled to our fair share.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is penny wise and pound foolish. We get one opportunity and we must grasp it. It benefits public transport and a range of other areas. I will come back again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: They put in their own ducting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The real question is whether NBI has made any claim to the Department for compensation owing to what commercial operators are doing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: How long before NBI will be back on track to meet the targets it set down in the original contract?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Department's-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is something that could be looked into.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the basis of the point Deputy Ó Murchú has made, could the Minister just give us an update on how the task force is operating?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is at the Senator's discretion.