Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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322. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding in the capital budget 2018 earmarked for metro north; the way in which these funds will be spent in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44597/17]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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335. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to construct metro north; if the €2.4 billion in funding will be allocated in the upcoming mid-term capital review; if a public-private partnership model will be used; the expected timeframe for planning and construction respectively to commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44877/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 335 together.

The Capital Plan, Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021, was published in September 2015 and set out the Government’s budgetary framework for public capital investment in Ireland over the period 2016-2021. The Capital plan confirmed a €9.6 billion capital envelope for transport over seven years and provided funding of over €700 million for planning, design and to begin construction of new Metro North.

Following the mid-term review of the Capital Plan, the Government’s recently announced allocation of additional capital expenditure in Budget 2018 and a 4-year capital envelope over the period 2018-2021 confirms progress of Metro North by the National Transport Authority (NTA); construction work on this project will start in 2021, with passenger services starting in 2027.

The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis. The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.

The 10-year National Investment Plan to be published in the coming months will include the funding for the period to complete this significant addition to public transport. I understand that the outcome of the current review of the proposed future role of Public Private Partnerships will be included as part of the National Investment Plan.