Vol. 635 No. 1
55 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Transport the work undertaken to investigate the feasibility of the eastern bypass for the greater Dublin region; the moneys allocated under the national development plan for this purpose; when a decision will be taken on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12739/07]
117 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport the reports that have been made available to him with regard to the proposed new eastern bypass in Dublin city; and the decision making process and possible funding arrangements for such a development. [12717/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 117 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects, such as the proposed eastern bypass route and the Dublin outer orbital route, would be a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authorities concerned, under the relevant sections of the Roads Act 1993. At the launch of Transport 21, I indicated that a feasibility study would be undertaken on both of these routes. Neither project is included in the Transport 21 financial envelope. The NRA is currently pursuing this work. I expect to have the study on the Dublin outer orbital shortly and I intend to advise my Cabinet colleagues on its outcome.
The NRA has engaged consulting engineers to undertake an engineering and feasibility study into the eastern bypass. This study will examine possible route options, prepare forecasts of traffic demand and report on scheme costs for the various options examined. The study is expected to be completed later this year.
The reservation of some of this road runs through my constituency and it has had a road reservation for as long as I can remember. It was taken off the pitch entirely when the Fianna Fáil manifesto prior to 1997 stated it would never happen. After its re-election in 2002, it went back on the list for a feasibility study and this has been ongoing for five years. Is there any prospect of getting an answer to the question on whether it is feasible? Is the Government contemplating it? Is the road reservation to be kept indefinitely? Is it the Minister's intention to speak to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government about the new flood barrier that is proposed for the mouth of the River Liffey? Is the potential for a road on top of this barrier being examined?
The Minister mentioned the feasibility study for the outer orbital. Am I to infer that it is either the outer orbital or the eastern bypass?
No.
What is the connection between the two? Are they being considered as alternative projects?
In any post-construction assessment of the port tunnel, will value for money and the efficacy of the tunnel be taken into account, given that it went ahead after the decision was made to drop the eastern bypass before the 1997 election? Its efficacy was diminished following that decision.
Both projects are under feasibility studies. Some people have suggested the outer orbital is another road outside the M50, but that is not the case. It is a different route which provides extra capacity for drivers who wish to avoid Dublin. The study is almost complete on the outer orbital and is slightly ahead of the feasibility study on the eastern bypass. Although I have not seen it and I am guessing slightly, it will cut across from south of Drogheda and link up with all the other motorways.
There is substantial engineering involved in the feasibility study of the eastern bypass. All of these roads are measured against all the other modes of transport available in Transport 21 to see how we can get maximum value out of those projects. Both are exciting projects.
The port tunnel is working exceptionally well and will prove to be one of the most sensible and significant projects ever undertaken. Whether the eastern bypass is built or not, the tunnel has provided much relief to the streets of Dublin following the reconfiguration of traffic due to the cordon put in place. However, I will not prejudge the operation, unlike the two Deputies who prejudge everything.
Will there be a post-construction assessment of the tunnel?
Of course. The benefit of all the projects are plain to see. I know it is difficult for Fine Gael and Labour when projects that they have criticised——
The Minister should stop waffling and answer the question.
——such as the Luas projects ——
The Minister should stop lecturing us and be a bit more humble after all his catastrophes.
We must move on. I call on Deputy Ryan.
I am keen for the Minister to get to the next question, so I will be brief. What is the purpose of the eastern bypass?
That is why there is a feasibility study under way. We will wait and see if there is a purpose to it.
How long do we have to wait? We are waiting for years.
I said in plain English that I expect to have the feasibility on the orbital route shortly, while I expect to have the study on the eastern bypass later in the year. I cannot be any clearer than that.
56 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport when the feasibility study for a proposed Luas line to Rathfarnham will be completed; and the finance arrangements that could be put in place to provide for such a development should it be approved by the Government. [12718/07]
Transport 21 provides a very large funding commitment for the delivery of an extensive rail-based public transport network in the greater Dublin area in the period up to 2015. This network is based on the Dublin Transportation Office strategy, A Platform for Change. It also includes funding for feasibility studies on those elements of the strategy which are not included in Transport 21, such as the proposed Luas line from the city centre to Dundrum via Rathfarnham and Terenure. On 30 January 2007, I announced that the RPA is to begin work on the Rathfarnham feasibility study in April.
As I live in Rathfarnham, I recently received Deputy Ryan's brochure in my door. I was astonished to see the lack of integrity in it. He suggested that I put out the feasibility study in response to his comments. However, my speech to launch Transport 21 included mention of the feasibility study, which was initiated more than two years before Deputy Eamon Ryan thought of it. I was surprised to discover what the Deputy included in the document he recently circulated to constituents in Rathfarnham. I live there during the week but my vote remains in my own constituency.
I take it as a compliment that the Minister reads my newsletter. Likewise, I took it as a compliment that he announced a feasibility study a week after my party announced its intention to undertake this project.
No, I announced the feasibility study a year and a half ago, at the end of 2005.
It could be described as a happy coincidence.
Word had gone out that the Minister had dropped the project.
I ask the Minister to examine my leaflet carefully. The route it proposes would be hugely successful in connecting the north and south sides of the city. I hope the next Government will be of a different hue. However, if the current Government decides to build the Rathfarnham Luas line, where will the funding come from given the €34 billion envelope set out by the Department of Finance? How will the Minister obtain the funding for a project such as this?
As the Deputy knows, the Luas extensions are largely being funded by developers in the areas in question. Significant resources are coming from the private sector and there is the possibility of public private partnerships. There are many ways of undertaking these developments. The feasibility study in respect of the proposed Luas line to Terenure and Rathfarnham through Harold's Cross is one of only three feasibility studies included in Transport 21, the others being those relating to the orbital route and the eastern bypass. I will make no decisions on this route until that study is submitted to the Department.
The route proposed by the Green Party, as set out in my constituency leaflet, envisages a connection from Dundrum through Churchtown, Nutgrove, Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold's Cross before crossing the city centre at Christ Church to link up with the old Broadstone line and continue to Finglas and beyond. Does the Minister agree this route makes sense?
The Deputy is aware that the RPA is already engaged in consultations on this project. I am not prepared to endorse the route proposed by the Deputy, nor will I put forward my personal views. I am not an engineer or an expert on urban landscapes and how these projects are managed. It will be difficult to build into an older confined space that is already developed.
I detect a common thread in our discussions of late and it has been building to a crescendo among the parties opposite. It reminds me of Jimmy Saville's "Jim'll Fix It" television programme many years ago.
The Minister certainly will not fix it.
Deputy Kenny put forward the Jim'll Fix It solution at the weekend. There is no substance to this approach, merely appeals to trust his promises that he will fix this and that.
The Minister has not fixed much.
No policies are being put forward by the Opposition other than its promise to do something different and better. It has no policies in this area.
Fine Gael has plenty of policies.
The Minister never lost his arrogance.
I will drop in a leaflet to the Minister.
The only policy I can identify is the Opposition's claims that it will do things better or quicker than the Government. We are not told whether this will mean ignoring the planning process and public consultation or simply politicising routes for personal political interests instead of doing what is clearly in the public interest. This is what Deputy Shortall has done in making an incredible political football out of the metro north proposals for Ballymun. She is being disingenuous to the people of Ballymun. It is appalling.
The Minister does not know what he is talking about.
He never did.
It is the worst case of politicising an issue I have seen in a long time.
That is what the Minister said about electronic voting.
The Minister should speak to the RPA.
It is unfortunate. However, the Government will deliver in typical fashion when the feasibility study is returned to us.
It is out of the Minister's hands now.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
