Vol. 470 No. 6
2 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications whether the Dundrum light rail line will go to Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 14; if he will give a commitment to build the Ballymun light rail line; if he will have arrangements made for a rail link to Dublin Airport; if he will publish full costings for putting the city centre position underground; and the terms of the agreement which has been reached with the EU Commission. [19564/96]
I have repeatedly stated the Government's commitment to the phased implementation of the core light rail network recommended by DTI, serving Ballymun, Cabinteely and Tallaght.
Last week I reached a very satisfactory agreement with the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Monika Wulf-Mathies, which clears the way at EU level for the construction of the Tallaght to Dundrum route as the first phase. Planning and design of the Ballymun to city centre route will be brought forward and will proceed in parallel with the construction of the Tallaght to Dundrum route. I am committed to the construction of the Ballymun route as soon as possible and at latest immediately after the completion of the Tallaght to Dundrum route. The Commissioner expressed a willingness to co-finance the design and planning work on the Ballymun line within the current Community Support Framework envelope and also indicated that the Commission would be favourably disposed to co-finance its construction should the Structural Fund situation for Ireland post-1999 make this possible.
I have asked the CIE project team, in the course of the design and planning work on the Ballymun line, to investigate possible alternative alignment options which would take account of the wider needs of the north Dublin area and also to consider an extension to Dublin Airport.
DTI also recommended that a conventional rail link, but not necessarily a DART type system, from Dublin Airport to the Dublin-Belfast railway line should be evaluated as a longer term option. This proposal is under consideration as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to the implementation of the DTI strategy.
As part of the public consultation process for the Tallaght to Dundrun line, the CIE project team examined and costed the underground option. They have already published their findings which among other issues identified the additional cost for underground as being in the range from £124 million to £300 million depending on the length of the tunnelled section. These findings, together with the work that was done for the DTI, confirm that the strategic and cost advantages that arise from an on-street light rail system make this the better option for Dublin. On-street is what the public have indicated they want. It can best meet the needs of this city and is the only realistic option. Underground is less accessible, less attractive and less safe, and would cost more to build and operate. The Government is committed to providing an on-street system and has asked CIE to concentrate its efforts on putting forward a proposal on this basis.
The Minister said that it will cost between £124 million and £300 million for an underground system in the city centre. Is that figure given by CIE's consultants or is it an independent figure?
The figure arises from work conducted by professionals and specialists in the area of public transport, consultants who were appointed to conduct the evaluation.
Are those consultants employed by CIE? Who are they?
I am surprised the Deputy is so out of touch. This information is in the public arena. The report has been published and is available. I suggest that the Deputy contact the CIE project team who will make a copy available to him. He will see from the report that a detailed analysis was conducted of the pros and cons of light rail and underground systems. The DTI — this goes back to the time the Deputy had responsibility for this area — conducted widescale negotiations with relevant State agencies, public bodies and all those involved in public transport in the city, and they were firmly in favour of an on-street light rail system. They catalogued several reasons such a system would be the best option for Dublin. The consultants operating on behalf of the CIE project team were also strongly in favour of an on-street light rail system for the reasons outlined in the report.
This side of the House is fully supportive of the light rail proposal involving three lines, to Sandyford, Tallaght and Ballymun. I appreciate that he is studying the airport route, for which he has my support. I take the Minister's advice that I should do my homework but perhaps he could help me. He outlined the minimum figure of £124 million for an underground system in the city centre. If it is practicable and financially possible to build such a system in the city centre, that should be done rather than taking away half of St. Stephen's Green, Dawson Street and the city centre generally. How authoritative is the cost of £124 million to £300 million? If this information is in the report I apologise that I do not know it but perhaps the Minister will tell me the name of the consultants and whether they are independent of CIE.
I did not say £124 million; I said between £124 million and £300 million, depending on the extent of tunnelling required. The evaluation was conducted by consultants who have expertise at European level in designing, planning and costing such schemes. Those consultants were employed by CIE.
That is the point.
That is common knowledge and there is nothing new in it.
It is no harm to put it on the record.
It has been put on the record many times. The Deputy's statement on the city centre contradicts previous statements made by him in respect of light rail, which is nothing new. He put down two key questions today asking when the line is to be extended and it is not being extended to Sandyford. He is now asking why it is not proposed to tunnel the city centre. Those questions would qualify for a nomination, possibly the Harry Houdini hypocrisy award.
Common sense award.
It is only a short time since the Deputy suggested publicly — I will be charitable and say it was a hare-brained idea — on behalf of Fianna Fáil that light rail routes should end at the canal.
And go underground. The Minister should read the rest of the statement.
I presume the Deputy was suggesting that passengers should buy tickets for light rail and that he will meet them at the canal and offer them boots for the remainder of the trek into the city centre. That is effectively what he said. He suggested that a light rail system be built without a bridge, that passengers would be dropped at the canal and would have to make their own way into the city. That is the kind of policy the Deputy is advocating on behalf of Fianna Fáil. It is hypocritical and full of contradictions.
If Priority Question No. 3 is not disposed of quite quickly it cannot be taken at all. The Deputy may ask a very brief and relevant question.
I wish to confirm what we have heard today. The consultants who came up with the figure for an underground system in the city centre were appointed by CIE, but since CIE is committed to an overground system the report is not totally independent. I ask the Minister to give independent figures for an underground system.
I will repeat what I said for the benefit of the Deputy who was obviously not listening. The Deputy and his party were involved in the DTI process at corporation, county council and Oireachtas levels. That was the most extensive consultative process on public transport ever undertaken in the history of the State. The DTI favours an on-street light rail system and in its findings it gives numerous reasons that is the best option. The Deputy should not make disparaging comments about consultants of international repute, who value their reputation and are held in the highest regard in the public service sector throughout the European Union.
The Minister loves consultants. He has spent £8 million on them since he came to office.
Those people put their professional expertise on the line in making these recommendations.
