Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I express my sympathies to our colleague, Senator Annie Hoey, and her family. Just a number of short weeks ago we were congratulating her on her wedding. Thankfully her father, Ray, was able to attend it but after a very long illness, he lost that battle last night.

The issue I raise this morning is one that many Deputies, Senators and other elected representatives from north County Dublin have been most anxious about over the past number of days, namely, the leak last Sunday in respect of MetroLink and the prospective delay in that project to 2034. While it is understandable that communities in north County Dublin are outraged by this, it is also important to say that this is a very important issue for the communities in the north inner city and the communities of Cabra, Glasnevin, Phibsboro and Drumcondra. These communities were very excited and very much needed MetroLink, believing that it was going to be a game-changer for them. These communities are the gateway to the city. They have to bear the brunt of commuter traffic and deal with emissions with nitrous oxide levels often 25% above the EU maximum limits. MetroLink is, therefore, very important but now we hear that it may be delayed and, indeed, the question is being asked as whether it will happen at all.

The important issue for me is that MetroLink is not a stand-alone project. MetroLink is crucial to the full roll-out and success of BusConnects and it is also dependent on the DART+ South West project, in particular as it is connects Heuston Station to the new station in Glasnevin. Anybody cycling or driving in the north inner city or just north of that area at the moment will know of the congestion in these communities.

I listened very carefully to the Minister’s reply to the Leader of this House when she posed the question about MetroLink this morning and a number of things stood out. The Minister said that MetroLink is an option. How can one call something an option when €170 million has already been spent on metro north and another €49 million has been spent on MetroLink? It is crucial that we see this project progressing.

The Department is also playing games with us because it is said the dates that were given were provided at the early part or start of the consultation. At the start of this year the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, said that the railway order application would be made in August of this year but that has not happened. The Department has wantonly attempted to mislead public representatives on what exactly is happening. We need a clear answer from the Government as to whether it is committed to this project and, if it is committed to it, a clear timeline on when it is going to happen. It is not good enough that these communities have for the past two decades dealt with uncertainty around this project. They are now looking at another two decades of increasing congestion in their communities.