Luas green line outage
Deputy Ahern says the Luas green line’s shutdown is causing major disruption and shows the weakness of Dublin’s transport network. The Minister agrees infrastructure delivery is obstructed by objections and judicial reviews and points to legislation and government action aimed at getting projects built.
The Luas green line remains out of action today. It has been about 24 hours since it went down and we do not know when it will be back. This is causing significant disruption and frustration for commuters across Dublin. Businesses across the city are also concerned, particularly as we are in the lead up to the busy Christmas shopping period. The fact that one Luas line going down can cause such havoc in our capital city is indicative of how poorly our city is served by its public transport links. Contrary to what the residents of Dartmouth Square might think, it is vital that we also have a metro serving our capital city, including the south and south-west of the city, in time. We are over-reliant on too few public transport links currently. We have seen this Government delay the shovel-ready DART south-west project. This is a transport link that could go a long way towards addressing the traffic chaos that we have seen on the M50 and the N7. Will the Government urgently reverse course on DART south-west and will it provide us with a functioning, robust public transport system in our capital city?
Comment on this
I already answered a question from Deputy Moynihan on DART south-west and the Government's commitment to it, as well as to DART+. I do not disagree with Deputy Ahern at all and that is why Deputy Darragh O'Brien, when he was Minister for housing, brought forward legislation in relation to objections. It is also why the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste speak so frequently with regard to the abuse, as I see it, of judicial reviews as being an obstacle to getting essential pieces of infrastructure over the line. It is not just a Dublin issue but is all over the country. Whether it is in relation to roads or public transport, it is everywhere.
Deputy Ahern is correct that Dublin needs a metro, a connection to the airport and an underground. Dublin is one of only two capital cities in the entire EU that does not have an underground network. We need one and the Government is committed to building it. I hope there is a favourable response with regard to the latest planning issue but we will have to take that as it comes.