Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
668. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 15 May 2018, the expenditure on consultancy costs for the MetroLink project; and the amount paid to each person or company in each year since the consultancy spend commenced in tabular form. [32314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent by his Department, TII and the NTA on outside consultancy costs in the planning of the BusConnects project by year; the amount paid to each individual consultancy firm or person in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area including the development of MetroLink and the BusConnects programme and therefore my Department has incurred no direct consultancy costs to date in relation to the planning of BusConnects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and the Authority's very recent reply to the Deputy in the matter of MetroLink costs (letter dated 28th June) I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a further reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
