Gabhaim buíochas don Cheann Comhairle as ucht an seans a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a ardu ar an bplean i gcomhar metro. Is olc liom nach bhfuil an tAire Iompair i láthair ach ar a laghad tá an tAire Stáit ó thuaisceart Átha Cliath inár measc agus tuigfidh sé go maith an argóint atá agam.
Swords is the capital of Fingal and it has public transport difficulties. It has a population of between 45,000 and 50,000 and it is growing very fast. The need for a metro is very strongly felt in the area. The Swords electoral ward includes the area of Donabate and Portrane which is currently evaluating an increase in population under a variation 34 plan which would increase the numbers to between 25,000 and 30,000. There is a proposal to sell St. Ita's Hospital and build approximately 2,800 houses on that site. Donabate on its own will have a population equivalent to Dundalk, and it is difficult to imagine Dundalk without a rail link.
The area of Kinsealy-Melrose was rezoned in the past to create a residential area which does not have good connections to its natural hinterland of Swords. It would also benefit from a rail link to Swords. Lusk has increased in size and there are proposals for a theme park on the style of Disneyworld to be situated there. There exists a large metropolis of population which is crying out for assurance from the Government that the metro plans which the RPA are recommending in its business case proposal will serve Swords. The Minister has asked the RPA to evaluate a line between the airport and Dublin city centre. It is very important that before mistakes are made which will have a long-term impact, the need for a metro link to Swords should be evaluated. It would be important for its own viability as well as for the population it is serving that Swords is included on that line connecting the city to Swords via the airport.
The Minister of State attends meetings on the north side and is aware that many housing estates in the Swords area are colloquially referred to as "hangars" because so many of the residents are airport workers. The viability of the metro will be greatly enhanced by ensuring that Swords is on that line. It will be vital to provide a park and ride facility to serve the many people working at the airport who come from north of Swords, Meath and Louth. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach in the House last week and he told me, understandably, that he is endeavouring to obtain the most cost-effective proposal. I appeal to the Minister to include Swords in that cost-effective proposal. The metro will not be cost-effective unless it runs to Swords, as the RPA business plan recommendation clearly bears out. I have doubts about whether the RPA was even privy to the information on the projected population growth in the Swords-Donabate-Lusk area. The RPA's conservative evaluation of present needs would provide justification for the extension of the metro to Swords. I was informed by the Taoiseach that the decision on the metro will come before Government in the next few weeks, in October. It is high time that we are given clear information and a clear understanding of the Government's position.
The people of Dublin, particularly Fingal, need to know if the Taoiseach will support the recommendation that Swords be included on that line. If Swords continues to be a difficult place to access because it does not have a metro service, I am sure the Minister for Finance as well as every other member of the Cabinet will realise that the cost to business will be very significant, and that should be part of the evaluation.