Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I understand the concern of the Senator, but it was discussed in this House on Committee Stage of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008.

Transport 21 will transform our transport infrastructure. In Dublin, the delivery of projects such as metro north, the interconnector, metro west and new Luas lines will provide an integrated network of rail services, which will bring significant benefits to the city and the region. It will provide the infrastructure required for Dublin to become an even more vibrant city in which to live and work. There is no doubt there will be problems while the construction work is taking place. Metro north and the interconnector will be the spine of the new public transport system, which has integration as a fundamental planning principle. Integrating these new rail lines with the existing Sandyford Luas line at St. Stephen's Green will allow the city centre to grow and become an even stronger focus for work and leisure than that which exists at present.

It is important, however, that the delivery of these critical projects is managed in a manner which minimises the impact on the city centre. It is in this context that the Minister recently met key stakeholders and agencies in the city to get an update on the major transport projects in Dublin, to identify the principal concerns of the business community and to review progress on traffic planning for the construction phase of these projects. The Minister intends that this will be the first in a series of meetings, which he will hold on a regular basis over the coming years to this end. There are concerns at these major works in the city but we do not want to send a negative message. The message we want to send is that the city is still open and that businesses are open. We do not want to frighten people away, we want them to shop in the city. It is a question of facilitating businesses, shoppers and commuters. We do not want people going to suburban shopping centres, from where they might not come back to shop in the city centre. The message is that the city is open for business.

Regarding St. Stephen's Green, both larnród Éireann and the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, are working closely together in designing the station for both metro north and the interconnector. They are doing this within constraints agreed with the Office of Public Works and in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin City Council, and other key stakeholders. Dublin City Council is developing a traffic management strategy to minimise the disruption caused to traffic from works at St. Stephen's Green and the station at O'Connell Bridge.

In recognition of the sensitive heritage and environmental issues in this area, specialists including conservation architects, archaeologists, and arboriculturists are currently being taken on board by the RPA to advise on these significant matters. A detailed landscaping plan to reinstate the park will be also agreed with the Office of Public Works. Prior to any work being carried out detailed surveys, reports and photographic records will be commissioned as agreed with the Office of Public Works.

Before undertaking any work in St. Stephen's Green the RPA will require a railway order to be granted by An Bord Pleanála. The agency will set out in detail the mitigation measures it will take in St. Stephen's Green during construction in the environmental impact statement required under the planning process. The agency will fully restore the green on the completion of construction. In addition, the National Monuments Acts requires the RPA to obtain the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for works on the green. There is therefore a twofold statutory protection of St. Stephen's Green under both the railway order and the national monuments consent procedures.

I am aware of concerns about the works to be undertaken in St. Stephen's Green. However, we must not lose sight of the benefits these works will bring to the city. Substantial work has been undertaken by both the RPA and larnród Éireann to minimise the impacts and to ensure we will not only retain the heritage and amenity of St. Stephen's Green but also obtain the benefits of a high quality and integrated public transport system in the heart of the city. It is one of the cornerstones of Transport 21 and will entail a colossal amount of work, but much detailed planning will go into it.

There may not be space for all vehicles to use the area, which will be part of the traffic plan. Whether one excludes cars, the priority is to facilitate business and commuters and encourage them onto busses. This is linked to the matter we discussed earlier. Much planning is taking place. This was discussed in the debate on the Dublin Transport Authority Bill, where an amendment was tabled to allow work to take place under the Saint Stephen's Green (Dublin) Act 1877. Whatever disruption takes place, it is planned to restore the green to its full glory.