Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Commuter Rail Service for County Dublin.

Mr. Rabbitte

I wish to thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise this very important matter on the Adjournment.

The last decision by the outgoing Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications, Deputy S. Brennan, apart from arranging a photocall of him leaving his children to school, was to announce his intention to re-open the Harcourt Street service. This decision conveniently serves the Minister's own constituency, but far more importantly than that, I am informed that the Minister's decision involved the direct transfer of resources as between the Harcourt Street project and the moneys earmarked for the direct rail commuter service to Clondalkin. This explains the accompanying statement from Deputy Brennan's office when he said that his Department had discovered £10 million that would now make the Harcourt Street project possible.

The extension of the rail commuter service to Clondalkin was outlined in the 1989National Development Plan. It was designed to attract up to 75 per cent EC Structural Funding. On 7 March 1990, Mr. Brennan, confirmed by way of answer to a parliamentary question from me——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call on the Deputy to refer to Minister Brennan.

Mr. Rabbitte

I beg your pardon, Sir, I thought I said Minister, and if I did not I had intended to. The Minister confirmed to me in his reply to my parliamentary question on that date:

The Clondalkin project which it is estimated would cost about £27.3 million would involve the construction of eight new stations and the provision of rail cars. Feeder bus services would be provided linking the Clondalkin railway station to Tallaght. Further developments in relation to the Clondalkin project must await the outcome of the request for EC aid.

On several subsequent occasions the Minister indicated that the EC funds duly secured did not exclude the Clondalkin project. In September 1990 I met the EC Commissioner concerned, Mr. Bruce Millan, in Brussels and he assured me that as far as he was concerned Ireland's allocation included provision for the Clondalkin commuter service. However, he emphasised that it was a matter for the Irish Government ultimately to choose how the resources would be used. Deputy Brennan has come and gone from the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications without being able to make up his mind on the plans submitted by CIE. His final action, whether cosmetic or real it is difficult to say, is to deprive an area of huge population with a low ratio of cars per capita of a desperately needed service and to allocate the moneys to a wealthier area that already has a higher number of cars per capita and is served by a superstandard DART service. Deputy Brennan is the author of an article in the Fianna Fáil document Election News in June 1991 entitled “The Future of Dublin Transport” which includes the following statement:

Funding has been reserved for a commuter link between Clondalkin and the city serving 12 stations including Ballyfermot, Phoenix Park, Cabra and Drumcondra.

The Minister's procrastination and inability to make up his mind since 1989 on such an important issue that would open up a rail commuter service to the west Dublin suburbs is disgraceful. The quality of life for tens of thousands of residents in Clondalkin and Tallaght — the demand for a spur line for Tallaght would in my opinion be irresistible if the Clondalkin station was to be reopened — would be so much improved if a commuter service was available.

Why should the residents of Clondalkin and Tallaght be so disadvantaged on this critical issue of transport? Deputy Brennan's valedictory action as Minister for Tourism, Transport is cynical and indefensible and I ask the new Minister, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn — it was disrespectful of me not to welcome Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn at the outset and I welcome her appointment——

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The Deputy would never be disrespectful.

Mr. Rabbitte

I congratulate Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn on her appointment and I wish her well.

I suggest that the sanctioning and approval of the opening of the direct commuter service to Clondalkin and to west Dublin is one of the most important decisions that she could make in the interests of easing the transport crisis to that part of Dublin.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

Tá mé buíoch den Teachta Rabbitte as deis a bheith agam mó chéad óráid a thabhairt i nDáil Éireann sa chéad seachtain ar mo cheapachán don Chomhaireacht.

The recent announcement relating to the reopening of the former Harcourt Street line as a public taranport facility will not affect the proposed development of commuter rail services on the south-west rail, corridor, including Clondalkin, which is planned under the operational programme on peripherality. The provision of these commuter rail sevices is being examined at present. This examination includes an evaluation of the possibilities for the construction of new stations and the reopening of others along the rail corridor. I expect to be in a position to present comprehensive proposals in the matter to the Government shortly. These proposals will cover all relavant aspects of the options available for the development of commuter rail services on the south-west corridor, including the question of EC assistance towards the cost of such investment.

As the House will already be aware, the remit of the expert working group who were established to assess and report on the most suitable public transport option for the former Harcourt Street line and the Tallaght area, was extended by my predecessor to include an examination of the possibility of developing a light rail system for Dublin as a whole. This work will include an examination of the public transport requirements of areas such as Tallaght, Finglas and other heavily populated areas of the city which require improved public transport services. I have asked the working group to submit a report to me as soon as possible.

Major public transport infrastructural improvements take a considerable time to plan, finance and to implement. In the meantime, we must make whatever practical improvements we can to the existing public transport services to Tallaght and other areas. I understand that Bus Átha Cliath have increased the level of the bus service to Tallaght. The local-link bus sevice in Tallaght was recently revived when the new Tallaght shopping centre was opened. This service will greatly facilitate local residents in the vicinity. I have been informed that as part of their bus replacement programme, on which the company intend to spend £10 million in 1992, Bus Átha Cliath are continuously modernising their fleet, including the services to Tallaght. Moreover, the company are initiating a major project involving the development of a new bus depot in Tallaght. Bus Átha Cliath also introduced an additional service recently between Dún Laoghaire and Tallaght, including intermediate areas.

I will ensure that my Department will continue to pursue all possibilities, both short and long term for public transport improvements for the heavily populated areas of Dublin including Clondalkin.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Tá sé ceadaithe ag an gCathaoir, a Aire, a ghuí ort go maire tú do nuacht.