Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for allowing statements on Ibrahim Halawa later today. The entire House and the Fianna Fáil group are very grateful to him.

I raise comments made yesterday by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, at the Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will recall that I raised concerns last week regarding the failure to advance a primary care centre for Crumlin and Drimnagh. Despite it having been announced in 2012, I told the House that the days of Ministers and Departments making announcements for the purpose of spin and as public relations exercises must come to an end. Yesterday, with regard to the DART underground, the Minister told the committee:

There is every intention of its being a project. It is being designed and kept alive and will certainly be eligible for EU funding.

The estimated cost of the project when it was first envisaged was in the region of €3 billion. With regard to metro north, the Minister also stated:

We must not lose sight of that project, along with metro north and others. If funds became available, the timetable for that and the DART underground should be looked at anew because they are so important.

Looking at old Estimates, the cost of completing metro north was estimated to be in the region of €2.5 billion. Like many Dubliners, I am extremely frustrated by the levels of congestion in the city. I welcome the prospect of the DART underground being built. I also welcome the Minister's comments on metro north. However, I have concerns about whether it is realistic that the projects will proceed. What are the real prospects of these projects being delivered, given the enormous amount of funding that is required?

The Minister earmarked two projects which he should examine if funds become available. The total cost of those projects, based on old projections, is well in excess of €2 billion. I absolutely support the prospect of those projects proceeding and believe they would have a massive impact on the capital, transforming the way those living in the capital, and visitors, travel. However, I sincerely hope this is not a case of a Minister making grandiose statements about the prospects of these projects now being back on the cards aimed at garnering positive media coverage, with neither of the projects having a real prospect of proceeding in the near future given their massive cost.

I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to urgently produce an action plan for dealing with transport-related issues in the capital that will ease the pressure experienced by those living in the capital on a daily basis. It should contain practical measures that are cost effective. The Minister must also clarify if the metro north or DART underground projects receiving the necessary funding are likely to proceed. The Minister said he will discuss with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the possible allocation of additional capital investments for projects of this nature. I call on the Minister, Deputy Ross, to inform the people of Dublin of the outcome of those discussions and whether he and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will find the necessary funding to proceed with these projects. If they cannot find the funding, then the Minister must provide an honest and realistic projection of when they may get Government support to proceed.