Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

652. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the original railway order for metro north specifies that works must be substantially completed by 27 October 2020; his plans to utilise the existing order or start again from scratch; the amount of development levies received on foot of the order; the implications of his actions on this revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10067/18]

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

As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including the development of a metro scheme.

Following consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the recommendations of the National Transport Authority (NTA) arising from this study, the Government decided in 2015 that an optimised metro rail link as set out in the study is the long term public transport solution on the Airport/Swords corridor. In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to proceed with the metro scheme.

The recently published Project Ireland 2040 now proposes to take forward a Metro Link scheme to run from Swords, via Dublin Airport to Dublin’s south city centre (operating in tunnel under the city centre) and onwards to Sandyford using the existing Luas Green Line to ensure that growth along this corridor can be accommodated. This will provide Dublin with a high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor serving critical destinations such as Swords, Dublin Airport, Dublin City University, Ballymun, the Mater Hospital and existing destinations along the Luas Green Line to Sandyford. Metro Link will provide faster reliable journey times to and from these key destinations while offering interchange with other rail, DART Expansion, light rail and bus services. 

The next steps are that the details of the Metro Link scheme (Swords to Sandyford) will put out to public consultation in the coming weeks, with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2027.  An application for a Railway Order will be submitted when a detailed Business Case for the scheme has been approved that seeks power to construct and operate the scheme and also to ensure that the necessary compulsory purchase order arrangements are given effect to secure the scheme.

In relation to development levies, they are in the first instance a matter for the relevant local authorities. I understand that both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council have been advised by the National Transport Authority to cease their existing Development Contribution Schemes for Metro North, and that the process of refunding contributions to those who paid them has begun. Noting NTA's advice in this particular regard, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for further reply on the information sought and issues raised.  The Deputy should contact my office should a reply not be received within 10 days.