Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the six short listed schemes in the Fingal-north Dublin Transport study appraisal report; and when there will be a long overdue high capacity light rail public transport solution serving the Swords-Dublin Airport-Dublin city corridor. [4335/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Fingal/North Dublin study currently underway is an independent study commissioned by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to identify the optimum  long term public transport solution to the meet the needs  of the corridor. Phase One of the Study was published on 8th December and six short-listed project options were identified for further detailed evaluation. A public consultation process was also launched at that time. Under the next stage, the six shortlisted projects will be subject to further analysis assessing cost, engineering, environmental and usage forecasts. This will form the basis for the selection of the recommended preferred option. 

The NTA has indicated that they expect to have the output of this next phase of the Study available to me at the end of March. That output will then require careful consideration in tandem with other analyses being undertaken, including the updating of a business case for the DART Underground project and the work being carried out in the preparation of a draft Transport Strategy for the GDA.  I anticipate that I will finalise this review by mid-year, in conjunction with the development of the transport strategy for the region.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proposed shortlisted projects. Moreover pending the outcome of the study it would be premature to comment on the timeline for delivery of the preferred  project.