Results 13,321-13,340 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes. I have met the NTA and the local authorities on several occasions. We have provided ongoing support and additional staff positions. What I am saying very specifically to the NTA is that the skills it has built up in Dublin, especially on the BusConnects design system, need to be transferred now or it needs to ensure those skills can help us in Cork and elsewhere. On metropolitan...

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

Eamon Ryan: On the national broadband plan, it is critical that everywhere in the country is able to access high-speed broadband. It has been subject to a number of delays for two to three reasons and we must overcome each of them. The first of these was Covid. We all know about the difficulties with getting contractors in and getting work done but that should no longer stop us. Staff staying away...

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes, and my understanding on that is that what had been a difficulty has been largely resolved.

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

Eamon Ryan: To finish the point, we still have significant difficulties with a lot of ducting, which is not as accessible as had originally been projected. The extent of that problem is greater than had originally been expected. That has caused a real difficulty, which still has not been overcome and needs to be. We have all seen and will see further that the number of surveys that have been done is...

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

Eamon Ryan: May I just finish the point?

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

Eamon Ryan: I will have to look at the details. We want to cover every house. If what the Chairman outlined provides a mechanism for us to do it, then yes, by all means.

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

Eamon Ryan: I got it from my officials. I think I said it will cost €2 billion to €3 billion, with €3 billion being the upper cost.

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

Eamon Ryan: It depends on the final design. If it is the full-blown motorway between Cork and Limerick, it is likely it will cost in the order of €2 billion to €3 billion, €3 billion being the more likely cost.

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

Eamon Ryan: I am told that those figures, with inflation in recent years and projected inflation into future years, are significantly underestimated-----

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

Eamon Ryan: All I can give the Chairman is the assessment I am getting from my officials, who are very experienced in this area and who see these bids come in all the time, usually over the cost of what TII might have originally projected. We have recently seen a number of instances in which, at the last minute-----

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes. I think the first priority would be to back up the Colbert station development and potential new stations, such as in Ballysimon, a perfect area for a new station since it is close to the city centre. A twin-track rail line there would improve train speeds for all users and offer that capability to develop the commuter network. It would improve the line up to Ballybrophy as well as-----

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

Eamon Ryan: My officials are urging caution on that too. The likely cost could be higher than that.

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

Eamon Ryan: That is a problem with the Limerick Junction upgrade.

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

Eamon Ryan: With due respect, when looking at some of the projects we have put through recently - I am thinking, for example, of the upgrade-----

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

Eamon Ryan: I agree. The potential benefit in developing the centre of Limerick and the housing solutions that come with it-----

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

Eamon Ryan: But no one can substantiate it because we do not have a final design yet.

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

Eamon Ryan: We do not know that.

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes, of course, but there is a strategic direction set out in the NDP. It is significant and requires a switch towards compact, low-carbon and balanced regional development. That is why Limerick rail, Cork rail and BusConnects in all these cities are important. Going back to low-carbon development, there is a legislative force now in that the climate Act requires us to halve emissions in...

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

Eamon Ryan: By all means, we will expedite that, but that on its own will not deliver the emissions reductions we need.

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

Eamon Ryan: No one is stopping that and no one is disagreeing that road safety has to come first. We want Cork and Limerick cities to thrive and to grow. Looking at what is happening in other cities across Europe and indeed the world, where is the investment and where is the quality of life really increasing? That will happen in those cities that invest in the public realm, public transport and the...