Vol. 519 No. 2
56 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the way in which it is envisaged to proceed with the transport spending in the Dublin area provided for in the national development plan; the person who will be responsible for implementing the projects; and when the decisions will be made identifying the individual projects which are to be included in the plan. [13321/00]
CIE, its operating subsidiaries and its light rail project office are responsible for implementing the public transport projects in the national development plan and there will also be recourse to public private partnerships for appropriate projects.
Substantial work has been undertaken by CIE and my Department on preparing a detailed implementation programme to give effect to the comprehensive investment strategy outlined in the national development plan. Most of the individual projects have been identified and contracts have been already awarded and tenders issued. These include, for example, contracts for elements of the light rail project, low floor double deck buses, and additional railcars.
The implementation programme will be updated to take on board the recommendations of the strategic rail study, the bus network review and the updated DTO strategy.
I do not know the name of the person who will be responsible.
In view of the figures now available from the DTO, does the Minister recognise the urgency of making decisions? We do not doubt that money has been allocated to implement the national plan and that there is a strategy. However, no individual projects have been identified. Will any rail project be decided on during the lifetime of the Government or will the promise of decisions be the platform of the Fianna Fáil Party at the next election, as we read in the newspapers? Will the Government's only contribution be the dismantling of CIE and the reversal of previous decisions?
Is the Minister aware that in Dublin city and county and in the surrounding counties major planning decisions are being made which are dependent on the provision of major high capacity public transport services, none of which is in existence and about which no decisions have been made? No decisions have been made about the location, scale, nature or direction of these projects. The greater Dublin area requires 20,000 new housing units per annum. Is there any liaison between Departments? Will the Minister for Public Enterprise or any Minister fulfil the Government's promise to implement the strategic planning guidelines for Dublin which place a responsibility on all Departments to provide facilities, other than mere housing, which are required to make the quality of life in Dublin tolerable and to ensure that the economy of Dublin does not collapse?
The economy of Dublin is doing very well.
That is no thanks to the Minister.
There is liaison. The Dublin Transportation Office has met the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure and has outlined the new developments and the necessary public transport needs. The Department of the Environment and Local Government and my Department consult constantly on this matter. There is no fear of the Dublin economy collapsing.
Will the Luas Harcourt Street line B proceed, as planned, from Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green on-street or might it go underground at Ranelagh? Has the Cabinet signed off on that project? If it has not, when does it intend to do so? Will the project be light rail or heavy rail, overground or underground?
The Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure will try to satisfy the Deputy's demands.
The Minister does not know.
The Opposition is so pathetic.
Deputies are entitled to have answers.
Of course, and I am entitled to go to Cabinet meetings.
Three years later the Minister is still going to Cabinet meetings.
