Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:50 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for metro north. [8628/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 April 2011
Ceisteanna (39, 40)
Brian Lenihan
Ceist:52 Deputy Brian Lenihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reconsider proceeding with enabling works on metro north in 2011 in order to create certainty around the project. [8583/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 52 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area such as Metro North, comes under the remit of the National Transport Authority. The legislative basis for this is Section 11(1)(e) of the DTA Act 2008 "Principal Functions of Authority — The principal functions of the Authority are to secure the provision of public transport infrastructure".
In relation to the future policy as regards Metro North, the Government has announced the preparation of a new Capital Investment Framework to be overseen by my colleague Deputy Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform. In this regard my Department will review all proposed capital spending. This review, which will take place against a background of new funding realities, will examine the costs and benefits of all capital projects and their contribution to overall economic objectives including employment creation. A key consideration for transport will be the need to prioritise funding to protect investment made to date and to maintain high safety standards.
In relation to the large public transport projects in the Dublin area no decisions have yet been made by me as to which project will proceed. The availability of funding, both from the Exchequer and private sources will be a further major determining factor in the review of these projects, two of which — Metro North and Dart Underground — were to be developed as Public Private Partnerships. There is a lot of uncertainty around the availability of private funding for projects dependant on Exchequer funds due to the sovereign debt situation.
In any event it is clear that all three cannot proceed in the immediate future. This was accepted by the previous Government following the publication of the National Recovery Plan. Despite funding difficulties I will be seeking to ensure that at least one of these projects will proceed and in this regard will examine all realistic approaches including delivery on an incremental, phased basis. I have recently received correspondence on the Metro North enabling works from the NTA and RPA and will be considering the matter shortly.