Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 26: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the development of a metro system to run from Dublin's city centre to the airport; his further views on whether the Irish Rail interconnector plan serves a different and separate function to any proposed metro system; his further views on the opinion that a metro system can be built for less than €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15495/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 73: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to proposals for the construction of a metro system for Dublin; if new proposals on this matter have come before Cabinet; when a final decision on the metro will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15553/05]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the development of a metro system to run from Dublin's city centre to the airport; his further views on whether the Irish Rail interconnector plan serves a different and separate function to any proposed metro system; his further views on the opinion that a metro system can be built for less than €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15717/05]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 73 and 131 together.

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 Éireann submitted proposals last July for an integrated rail network in the greater Dublin area, including the interconnector project.

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 is under way in my Department on a ten year transport investment framework.

An outline of the draft investment framework is currently under active consideration by the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs. I intend to bring proposals to Government in due course once the Cabinet committee has concluded its work and I have fully considered the advice of the Attorney General in relation to the implications of the strategic environmental assessment directive.

I can confirm that the metro and the interconnector serve different functions. The purpose of the metro is to provide high capacity public transport in areas of the city not currently served by rail. The purpose of the interconnector is to better interconnect the existing Dublin suburban rail network, relieve a bottleneck in the city centre and increase the capacity of that network.

The projected cost of the metro has been the subject of a detailed analysis by the RPA. However, the actual cost will ultimately be determined through a competitive tendering process. I am anxious to ensure that all transport projects deliver value for money for the State, but I also consider it prudent at this early stage in the development of the metro project that we evaluate it on the basis of conservative cost assumptions.