Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
1164. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the decision to include the revised metro north project in the Government's capital investment plan 2016 to 2021 is not fully consistent with the public spending code guidelines on project appraisal (details supplied). [12961/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether one of the critical assumptions of lower passenger demand adopted in the Fingal north Dublin transport study (details supplied) still stands up to scrutiny, in view of the higher levels of projected employment and population growth and subsequently passenger demand than when the study was undertaken; and his views on whether the redundancy of this lower demand assumption could mean that the decision to include the optimised project rather than the original project in the capital investment plan is misguided. [12958/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1179 together.
The Fingal/North Dublin Study undertaken by the National Transport Authority and completed in 2015 represented a comprehensive analysis to identify the optimum long-term public transport solution to connect Dublin City Centre, Dublin Airport and Swords. Twenty five potential schemes were assessed, following which the new Metro North project was selected as the optimum scheme.
That study represented a comparative evaluation, comparing the various options on an equivalent basis. It used the best available population and employment information as part of the analysis work, incorporating detailed output from Census 2011, which was the most recent census at the time.
The analysis undertaken in 2015 demonstrated that a lower cost scheme than the original Metro North project was available, which would deliver an appropriately sized metro solution to serve the public transport needs along this corridor. That continues to be the case and work is proceeding on the detailed development of the New Metro North scheme.
It is noted that the Central Statistics Office have produced preliminary results from the 2016 census which align with the population growth projections used in the study. In addition and in relation to increased employment potential, the Fingal/North Dublin Study identified that the new Metro North scheme "has significant capacity to allow for potential future growth".
The design and planning work being undertaken at present on the new Metro North project, will continue to use the most up-to-date information available on population and employment projections to ensure that the final design and service pattern is correctly calibrated to fully meet the public transport needs of the corridor.
The decision to include the new Metro North project in the Capital Plan is fully consistent with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. When planning for expenditure over a period of seven years, it will not always be possible to have detailed appraisals of projects in advance and their inclusion in the Capital Plan on the basis of a preliminary appraisal is not inconsistent with the Code. A decision to proceed with the project will still require a detailed business case.
