Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 357: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on Government policy regarding providing a rail link from Dublin city to Dublin Airport; and the Government's views on extending that line through Swords and meeting the Dublin-Belfast line at Donabate for passenger transfer in view of the fact that this provides logical access to and from the airport by rail from the north, south and all the rail network throughout the country. [12213/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The programme for Government contains a specific commitment to develop a metro for Dublin with a link to Dublin Airport.

The Railway Procurement Agency has submitted to my Department a detailed business case for a metro from the city centre to Dublin Airport, while Iarnród Eireann submitted proposals last July for an integrated rail network in the greater Dublin area.

While the RPA has suggested several routes for the proposed metro, a final decision will be subject to a Government decision on the project and subsequently to the findings of a public inquiry as part of the statutory approval process.

In the light of the announcement by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement of agreement in principle to a ten-year capital investment envelope for transport, work has commenced in my Department on a ten-year transport investment plan.

The draft framework takes account of the work already done on investment priorities under the current capital envelope to the end of 2009 and of the various strategic studies already completed by my Department and its agencies, including A Platform for Change, the Strategic Rail Review and the National Road Needs Study. More specifically, my Department has engaged with Córas Iompair Éireann, the Railway Procurement Agency, the National Roads Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office to identify the broad direction and priorities under the ten-year investment framework. My Department has also consulted with other Departments, primarily through the cross-departmental team of officials which supports the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs.

A draft of the ten-year transport plan is currently under consideration by the Cabinet committee. I will bring proposals to Government in due course once the Cabinet committee has concluded its work.