Dara Calleary
Question:270. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review and advance the Metro west project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33821/15]
View answerThursday, 1 October 2015
Questions (270)
Written answers
Metro West was proposed under Transport 21 as an orbital metro connecting Tallaght and Blanchardstown in the west of Dublin with the original Metro North proposal to Swords. The project was to be procured as a Public Private Partnership, however a significant Exchequer contribution would also have been required.
In October 2010 the then Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) submitted an application to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order for the metro project. In light of the financial crisis, it was decided that the Railway Order application for Metro West should be withdrawn in September 2011.
Based on the outcome of the recent Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study undertaken by the National Transport Authority, the Government has decided that a revised Metro North scheme is the most appropriate public transport solution to address the transport needs of the Swords/Airport/City Centre Corridor. Funding is being made in the new Capital Plan Building for Recovery for new Metro North but there are no plans and no funding to proceed with the Metro West proposal.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) whose statutory remit covers planning of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area is currently updating its long term strategy for the wider GDA which will cover all the main corridors in the GDA. The draft Strategy will be published for public consultation shortly.