Yesterday the Cabinet approved going to tender with the Metro project. It is the largest investment in public transport the State will ever see. When I went to the pre-tender engagement in DCU I saw the global nature of this project with potential suppliers from right across the world. The reality is the global nature of the project will hit the ground from next year with enabling works and for the next ten years, at the very least, my community will face many of the challenges of Metro as well as its benefits. We absolutely welcome Metro - it is a really important project - but we need to get out now and start telling communities what this will mean for them in terms of construction, traffic disruption, engagement with genuine concerns and so on. I urge the NTA and TII to start that work now and engage with local residents' associations. They want to be part of the process and be part of the success of this project. Inevitably, they will have concerns and questions as with any project. I urge that we ensure that everyone is part of a project that will be with us for a long time to come.

The Deputy is right. One of the biggest barriers or things that slows down projects is a lack of engagement and at the earliest stage possible. I fully agree with the Deputy and support the need for the NTA and TII to engage directly. I know the Deputy will do so himself in his own capacity and to highlight what is happening and the benefits and the challenges that will arise as is the case with any development of this size or significance. This is a massive investment in the Deputy’s community and in our communities in Dublin, in particular. It is really important that we can move this project along as quickly as possible. It is really important that we bring people with us and that they are aware of everything that is happening.