asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has any proposals in his Department for the construction of a transport tunnel to link Ireland and Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Anglo-Irish Tunnel Link.
72.
There are no proposals under consideration for the construction of a tunnel linking this country with Great Britain.
Does the Minister not think it is regrettable that there is no such proposal in view of the fact, if one can place any credence in recent reports in the papers, that the nod has been given to a link between France and Britain?
That is a separate question.
I do not think it is regrettable. My understanding is that the proposed tunnel between France and England between Folkstone and Calais, which is a distance of about 30 miles, will cost about £900 million. It is over twice that distance from here to Great Britain and it might cost £2,000 million to erect a tunnel. If I had £2,000 million I do not think I would spend it on a tunnel between here and England. I would find other uses for it.
The Minister would spend it on a road between Dublin and Cork.
I do not think it is even practicable to discuss it. The cost involved would be enormous and we could not afford it.