Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine if he will meet a group (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if he will ensure that the RPA chooses a route that maximises the use of green space in the Drumcondra area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18579/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Procurement Agency has been mandated by the Government to procure and implement Metro North. The RPA continues to engage extensively with residents in the area (including Residents for Realignment) in exploring mechanisms for addressing their concerns. Any meeting to be held on these issues is a matter for the RPA.

Following a very extensive public consultation process last year, the RPA Board decided on the preferred route for Metro North and it was announced in October 2006. Metro North will have 15 stops, including ones at Griffith Avenue and Drumcondra.

Work is at present underway on the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and the documentation required to support an application to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order. A Railway Order is the legal permission needed to build and operate Metro North. The authority to make a final decision on the alignment of Metro North rests with An Bord Pleanála, through this Railway Order process. The terms of this statutory planning process also allow considerable opportunity for the public to comment on, and indeed object to the detailed plans for the project.

The RPA continues to engage extensively with residents in the area in exploring mechanisms for addressing their concerns and to this end has written on a number of occasions to all householders whose properties are located close to the proposed tunnel alignment.

The RPA has received many, and sometimes irreconcilable requests, from residents relating to the tunnel alignment. As a result, RPA is considering a number of options for an alternative tunnel alignment between the Drumcondra and DCU stop locations, which would potentially help to address the residents concerns. However, it also has to have regard to construction, cost and operational issues when looking at alternatives.

It is also important to note that solving one person's problem may only create a problem for somebody else and that whichever route is chosen will pass beneath houses, businesses and other buildings. The views of other communities and stakeholders along the full Metro North line who are supportive of the project moving ahead as soon as possible also needs to be considered.

When the options for alternative alignments have been further developed, RPA will write to all affected residents again enclosing details of the options and seeking comments on them. These comments will feed into the overall environmental assessment of the options so that the detailed tunnel alignment for this portion of Metro North can be finalised and the project can be moved towards construction.

RPA will also ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to address any potential damage to property caused by tunnelling. The RPA have informed me that modern tunnel construction methods make it unlikely that any structural damage will occur. Finally, the RPA has agreed to provide funding for independent technical advice for residents who may be affected by tunnelling works along the route, subject to agreement on the detailed arrangements for this. It is important that the residents' representatives engage directly with the RPA to agree these arrangements, which must also respect public financial and procurement requirements.