asked the Minister for Local Government if there are any proposals whereby CIE may provide a new rail line bridge in conjunction with the new road bridge proposed for east of Butt Bridge so as to allow the removal of the existing loop line which now obscures the Custom House.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Bridge.
56.
No such proposals have been submitted to me.
According to my information, what is known as the loop line bridge, or Butt Bridge, will become inoperative within the next five years. Would the Minister not consider that a joint venture between the semi-State body and the local authority to construct a new bridge and a new rail line at the same time would save expense to the taxpayers and ratepayers?
There is no proposal. I do not know about it being obsolete within the next five years. That is not the information I have. Even when the new bridge for which I made a bridge order in August, 1973, is built, this will not allow the removal of the loop line railway bridge. Until there is a proposal there is nothing I can do about it.
As far as I am concerned, the loop line destroys the view, from the centre of our city, that is O'Connell Bridge, of the Minister's own office, the Custom House, which is a beautiful building and, which I was responsible for helping to clean up. Would the Minister make inquiries and take some initiative in this matter so that we will not end up having two separate projects costing twice as much whereas the two could be done at one time?
That is hardly likely to happen, but I have no right to initiate anything.
Has the Minister for Transport and Power?
Perhaps.