With the permission of the House, I would like to share my time with Senator Ross who also has an interest in this issue.
Adjournment Matters. - Extension of DART to Greystones.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Is that agreed? Agreed.
When the first proposals for rail electrification were published in the 1970s, it was envisaged that the southern terminus for the rail electrification system now known as DART would be Greystones. When the plans were published and put on public display in 1978 and 1979, the southern terminus of DART was shown as Greystones.
From the outset, it was not envisaged that the service would run only from Bray to Howth. However, between the original plans and the detailed implementation of those plans the extension of the line from Bray to Greystones was omitted. At the time I said, and I still believe, the decision was one of the most crass and unforgivable blunders in public transport since the decision to close the Harcourt Street line. Since the DART service was inaugurated my views on the omission of Greystones from the line have been confirmed one hundredfold.
The Greystones area is one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the State. Indeed, for a period in the 1980s it was one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in Europe. There is long tradition of commuting by rail from the town. The decision not to extend the DART line to Greystones, coupled with the running down of the Bray-Greystones shuttle service, has led to a switch by commuters from rail to road. This is an unwelcome change for the people of Greystones, who must put up with an inadequate road network around the town, and for the taxpayer who must invest millions of pounds in upgrading roads. Economically and ecologically it is at best a second best solution.
The interim report of the DTI recognised the logic of extending the DART to Greystones. The only definite proposal for DART extension made in the report was for the extension of the line to Greystones. Iarnród Éireann, which as CIE contributed to the original crass error in not running the line to Greystones, also recognises the logic of the extension. The managing director of that company is on record as saying the extension of the DART line to Greystones is the most logical and cost-effective solution to Greystones transportation problems.
Some £20 million has been allocated in the National Development Plan for the upgrading of suburban rail services in the greater Dublin area. It is unclear what is included in the proposals for this expenditure. The DTI list of proposals for upgrading suburban services, as augmented by some proposals from Iarnród Éireann, will cost approximately £28.7 million. The shopping list definitely includes the extension of the DART line to Greystones, additional DART stations on the southside, new rolling stock for the DART line, upgrading the Maynooth line and a new ticketing system. Each of these items of expenditure could be defended on its merit, but the most pressing and logical one which will make a positive return on investment in a reasonable period is the extension of the DART line to Greystones. The case for Greystones is more cost-effective than any other item on the shopping list. When we get down to detail it is the only item on the shopping list which will make a positive return and that could be regarded as additional capital input.
In looking for the extension of the DART line to Greystones, public representatives and people from Wicklow are not looking for anything new. When the DART line was first commissioned in 1983, we had nine direct trains per day from the town. By 1993 the figure was reduced to one. In contrast, the number of trains from Bray to Pearse Station, the chosen Dublin terminus, has increased from 26 in 1983 to 83 in 1993. Consequently, usage of the line from Greystones has declined dramatically, in fact one could say disastrously. During that period the commuter line services to Malahide, Clondalkin and Maynooth have been improved as a result of substantial capital input by Government. The DART line from Bray to Howth has received over £100 million during that period.
Since 1987 £20 million has been allocated to upgrading the Maynooth line and the Maynooth-Drogheda line in terms of rolling stock. There is a proposal to spend £100 million on the Belfast line which will upgrade the Maynooth portion of the line. Since 1998 approximately £15 million has been allocated to new stations along the Maynooth and Clonsilla line. The list goes on.
The Greystones line is the only one with a history of commuter usage which has been downgraded in the past ten years. This is unacceptable. Logic, economics, common sense and political honour suggest this extension should be recognised by the Minister and the Minister of State as the number one priority. All political parties, including my party have given undertakings about the extension to Greystones. I am old fashioned in regard to politics. Once undertakings have been given, they must be honoured.
I thank Senator Roche for sharing his time. Greystones is a town stranded in north County Wicklow. It is a commuter town, but for some extraordinary reason successive Governments have failed to recognise this. It was stranded because the shuttle was cut-off and the DART was not extended to it. The town is full of frustrated commuters who face difficulty and discomfort in getting to work each day. It is inexplicable that other towns and suburbs of Dublin — Greystones is a suburb of Dublin — have received preferential treatment, given the number of people who commute from Greystones each day.
I and Senator Roche, who has been in the area longer, are aware this is a long running sore. One of the most extraordinary features of the problem is that we have been frustrated at every turn by Government. Last year people from Greystones took part in a march to this House and the Department in an unprecedented show of solidarity, yet there was no response. We now have an opportunity following the DTI report, to remedy this wrong with EC funds.
The Minister is probably unaware of difficulties encountered by people from Greystones. A shuttle from Greystones to Bray was cut. People must seek alternative forms of transport to Dublin. They must travel by car or overcrowded bus to Bray. The increase in traffic on this road is in nobody's interest. It is bad for the environment, it causes traffic jams and is frustrating for people who are often late for work. A lot of time is lost. I would appeal to the Minister, at this opportune time when EC funds are available for infrastructure of this sort, to give this matter the priority it merited many years ago, remedy this wrong and facilitate the long-suffering commuters of Greystones in getting to Dublin.
I am very grateful to the Senators for giving me the opportunity to respond to this very important motion. The National Development Plan includes provision for an EC-assisted investment programme of £220 million. Up to £200 million of this expenditure is proposed for the development of a light rail transit system for Dublin. A further £20 million has been included in the plan for other important public transport projects including the development of public transport interchange facilities, integrated ticketing and the upgrading of suburban rail services, including possible extensions of the DART to both Greystones and Malahide. These issues are being further evaluated under the ongoing Dublin Transportation Initiative process and the outcome of this evaluation will be reflected in the final report of the DTI which is expected shortly. It would not be appropriate for me to preempt the final report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative in relation to specific transport options which may be recommended for Greystones or elsewhere.
In general terms, the overall cost of the main priorities which have been outlined above would exceed the level of funding available. Accordingly, it is essential that the expenditure of £20 million in non-light rail transport work is carefully allocated to the most effective projects in overall public transport terms. In this context we are fully aware of the concerns of residents in Greystones concerning the extension of the DART to that town. When final decisions are being taken every consideration possible will be given to Greystones.
May I make a small point in response to the Minister?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I cannot let you make a statement but I will allow a brief question to the Minister.
Can it be rapidly clarified where the final decision will be made? If the final decision is to lie with the DTI, we in Greystones would be very happy. They have already recommended that that extension should go ahead as the number one priority.
I presume I heard the Senator correctly when he asked where the final decision will be made. I am confident that the final decision will be made by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in consultation with the Minister for Finance and on the recommendations of both the DTI and the relevant officials in the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications and the Department of Finance.