Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

625. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the metro west project; the status of the planned train stations along metro west; if these planned train stations remain part of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21984/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).​Metro West was proposed under the ​Transport 21 initiative as an orbital metro connecting Tallaght and Blanchardstown in the west of Dublin with the original Metro North proposal to Swords but due to the financial crisis the Railway Order application for the project was withdrawn in 2011.   The NTA's GDA Transport Strategy 2016-2035  does not include the original Metro West proposal but instead proposes the future development of an east-west Luas line, commencing in the residential areas of Lucan and connecting into Dublin City Centre. This would provide a high capacity radial service from this area to the City Centre, sufficient to cater for the high transport demand along this corridor, and would serve Lucan, Liffey Valley and Ballyfermot along its route.

The Strategy also envisages the development of a Core Bus Network, which would include a range of radial and orbital routes serving Dublin West, and a Bus Rapid Transit scheme linking Blanchardstown with UCD.

The Capital Plan does not include funding for the  east-west Luas line so it will not be advanced during the period of the current Plan.  The timeline for the project will be determined in the context of Integrated Implementation Plans brought forward by the NTA for implementation of the GDA Transport Strategy and the availability of funding under future Capital funding reviews.