Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2019
194. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an undertaking that the Metro project will be delivered in a timely and cost-effective fashion; and the concerns he has regarding same. [9869/19]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are developing revised proposals for public consultation in relation to a "Preferred Route" of the proposed MetroLink.
This "Preferred Route" follows on from last year's public consultation on what was known as a "Emerging Preferred Route", a public consultation which gave rise to much public commentary, particularly regarding a number of different local areas across the city.
In developing their revised proposals the NTA and TII are seeking to develop a new cross-city public transport corridor via the airport and out to Swords and, in doing so, increase capacity on the Luas Green Line. In trying to achieve that ambition they are also listening to the views of the public, including those living along the Green Line, as regards what level of disruption is acceptable to deliver the increased capacity the Line needs.
It is a matter for the NTA and TII to bring their revised proposals forward for public consultation and I look forward to hearing the public's views on the "Preferred Route" when it is published in the coming weeks.
The Deputy is right to note the importance of timely and cost effective delivery of projects such as this, and those issues are obviously important matters for consideration as the project moves onto this next phase of consultation.
