Results 8,121-8,140 of 26,021 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: We had representatives of TII in before us to respond to the review of the NDP. They said there were two categories: less than €1 billion and between €1 billion and €3 billion. I am asking how much the project will cost. The Minister has put it out there on numerous occasions that it would cost €3 billion. Is that the case?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)
Kieran O'Donnell: It is 90 km long. Even at the very outside, it will cost approximately €10 million per kilometre. That is about €1 billion at most. How can you go from €1 billion to €3 billion?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)
Kieran O'Donnell: I have made the same inquiries and I am told the cost could go up to maybe €15 million per kilometre, which is about €1.3 billion or €1.4 billion in total, 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: I contend that this is incorrect. I believe that the motorway could cost, at the outside, €10 million per kilometre, which would come in at €900 million in total. If the cost per kilometre went up to even €15 million, the total cost would be in the order of €1.3 billion or €1.4 billion. We might engage with the Department on the figures because we can...
- 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?