Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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483. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the proposed tunnel that is part of the Dublin metro north project will be redesigned or if it has been eliminated from the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33736/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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484. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed capacity of annual passenger numbers the Dublin metro north tunnel will be capable of taking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33740/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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485. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the European Investment Bank has been approached regarding finance for the Dublin metro north project; the duration of funding sought; the cost of the finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33741/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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486. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if climate change obligations were factored into the sectorial plan regarding the business case attached to the Dublin metro north project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33742/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 to 486, inclusive, together.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including new Metro North.

Funding is provided under the Government's Capital Plan for planning, design and construction of new Metro North.  The funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan allows for planning and design work on the project, with construction then expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027.  The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the NTA's recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. The environmental impact of the project was considered in the context of the North Dublin Study and will be considered further in the context of the Railway Order application for new Metro North.    

 I understand that over 8 km of the route would run in a tunnel from Griffith Avenue through the City Centre in addition to running under Dublin Airport, and this involves reduced tunnelling from the original Metro North project.  It is proposed that the service would operate with 60-metre light metro vehicles, which offers a design capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction, although expandable in future if required.

The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on planning and design of new Metro North.  My Department will continue to monitor progress, including funding for the project, as the planning and design process evolves.

Discussions in relation to potential funding by the European Investment Bank will be initiated at a later stage when the NTA and TII have further progressed the planning and design work for the revised project.