Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 May 1996

Vol. 464 No. 7

Written Answers. - Dublin Port Tunnel.

Noel Ahern

Question:

77 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if a socio-economic cost benefit analysis in accordance with Article 5 of EU Regulation 2083/93 is required in respect of the Dublin port tunnel; if so, if it has been commissioned or completed; if consultants have been appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8910/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

All road projects for which EU assistance is sought must meet various requirements set out in the relevant regulations. In the case of European Regional Development Fund projects costing over 25 MECU, £20 million approximately, and in the case of Cohesion Fund projects, the requirements include an analysis of the socio-economic costs and benefits of the proposed project.

Arrangements for undertaking such an analysis in respect of a proposed national road such as the proposed tunnel are a matter for the relevant road authority, in this case Dublin Corporation, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority. Cohesion Fund assistance has already been sought and approved in respect of Stage I, preliminary design stage, of the Dublin port tunnel.

Ivor Callely

Question:

78 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he intends to introduce to address the house insurance problems being faced by householders in Marino, Dublin 3 in view of the Dublin port access tunnel. [8993/96]

Ivor Callely

Question:

79 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents regarding the Dublin port access tunnel; the matters, if any, that have been brought to his attention; if so, his response to the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8994/96]

Noel Ahern

Question:

82 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide funding to local residents associations to commission an independent study of the Dublin port tunnel in view of the perceived doubts which exist regarding the impartiality of environmental impact studies of major capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8896/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 82 together.

The proposed Dublin port access route is intended to be a national primary road. The development of proposals for the route is, accordingly, a matter for Dublin Corporation, as road authority for the area, acting under the general supervision of the National Roads Authority which has overall responsibility for the planning, design, construction and financing of national roads.

It is the intention that the proposed route would be constructed as a motorway. The Roads Act, 1993 outlines the statutory procedures which must be complied with before a project of this nature can proceed. These include a full environmental impact assessment, the preparation of a motorway scheme and the holding of a public inquiry into all matters relating to the scheme, including the environmental impact. These procedures, which involve extensive public consultation, give all interested persons and organisations ample opportunity to make their views and concerns known, and ensure that all views and objections are fully considered before a final decision is taken on a proposed scheme. As Minister, I have a quasi-judicial function in relation to individual motorway schemes and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of a particular proposal until the statutory procedures have been complied with.