Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Bill and I am particularly delighted that the implementation of the legislation will put the climate action fund on a statutory footing. I welcome also the commitment that once the Bill becomes legislation and is commenced there will be a second call for projects to be announced. It is on the subject of one of those projects that I wish to address the Minister.

I bring to the Minister's attention a group calling itself Metro South West. This group, headed by Pauline Foster and Seán Ward, comprises a collection of volunteers and more than 30 residents' associations contained within the Dublin South-Central and Dublin South-West constituencies. They have carried out Trojan work relating to the MetroLink project connecting Firhouse with Rathmines and taking in Kimmage and Harold's Cross, which are within my Dublin South-Central constituency. A commitment to carry out a feasibility study for this proposed metro line was given by all three Government parties in their election manifestos, and supported by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. A meeting is being sought with the Minister to advance the discussions on that feasibility study. South-west Dublin is the triangle between the green and red Luas lines, but not served by them. The area has only buses as its public transport options. This stands in sharp contrast to south-east Dublin, which is served by the DART, the Luas and a quality bus corridor. The population of the south-west Dublin area proposed to be served by the MetroLink well exceeds that of the catchment area for the Luas green lines. It has been suggested that this is not the case, but arguments that the population is insufficient are simply incorrect.

One of the members of the group, Pauline Foster, managed to get her hands on a 1973 bus timetable.In that, she made a comparison with the bus seats in 1973, with a much smaller population than now. Even if BusConnects delivered everything, including its spines, it is still less than we had with a much smaller population in the area.

We have a unique opportunity with the metro tunnel boring machine that is proposed to be abandoned underground to do something really significant. I strongly advocate that instead of being abandoned, it is turned slightly and moved over in our direction to provide an excellent and energy sustainable public transport option. The benefits are immense. In this area, there is more than 70% reliance on private cars. Modality conversion would be guaranteed and pay dividends on the investment in the environment and quality of life for our residents. Efficiency and diversity of choice in public transport makes hospitals, workplaces and the city more accessible. The more accessible the city, the more life we have in our city centres for families to enjoy it and to have the experience of vibrant city life, as well as all the environmental benefits, which we do not need to lecture the Minister on.

The plans for the metro route are not new. As long ago as 2001, the Dublin Transportation Office published a report entitled A Platform for Change, modelling a bus-only solution. That report stated: "In summary, the analysis of the 'Comprehensive Bus' scenario established that buses alone could not address the problem because in many of the main transportation corridors the bus mode cannot provide the necessary capacity to cope with the forecast demand." The report went on to recommend the provision of a metro from Tallaght to the airport, including Kimmage and Harold's Cross. How is it that nearly 20 years later, with a lower density of population then and significantly increased population now, with all that is planned for the coming years, the argument for that transport solution is not made and not sustainable now?

The metro group's straightforward argument is that buses alone cannot provide sufficient public transport capacity in Dublin South-West, and as a result, the south west will remain heavily reliant on cars, which will further damage the environment. On-street Luas is not feasible in this area, so the only way to provide the required capacity is with a metro. In other words, there is no alternative to a metro to meet the public transport needs of those living in Dublin South-West and that portion of Dublin South-Central. This analysis is supported by residents associations, their experience and canvassing of them. It is imperative that this position is reviewed and that the feasibility study is undertaken. With the passing of today's legislation, I strongly propose and urge the Minister that the metro south-west feasibility study is undertaken as one of the projects under the climate action fund, that the funding is designated for it, and that we take cognisance of the eminently sensible and reasonable terms of reference that are suggested and put forward by the south-west metro campaign.