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

Question 461: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an alternative transport system for Dublin (details supplied); and his Department's response to same. [38515/06]

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

I am aware of the proposed "Dargan Plan" which has been described recently in the media and was the subject of a presentation to both my Department and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport of which the Deputy is a member.

There is already a credible, professional and technically robust transportation strategy for Dublin in the form of DTO's "A Platform for Change". This was based on detailed transportation modelling, technical analysis, examination of alternative options and professional judgement and has been accepted by Government as the basis for the Transport 21 investment programme for the Greater Dublin Area.

I also do not accept that the timelines and capital cost estimates suggested in the "Dargan Plan" are realistic. The Government has already taken decisions on Transport 21 and more particularly on the key elements of an integrated transport network for the Greater Dublin Area, based on a robust professional analysis by the DTO and the relevant transport delivery agencies. Over the past year we have developed a growing momentum on the delivery of this investment programme. It is vital that we maintain that momentum rather than begin again a debate about the composition of the investment programme.