[Colm Moore]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0902/transport.html

Uncertainty over Dublin transport projects
Updated: 21:59, Friday, 2 September 2011

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the country is in receivership and it is by no means certain that any of the major transport projects for Dublin will be built in the next five years.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said the country is in receivership and it is by no means certain that any of the major transport projects for Dublin will be built in the next five years.

He said the Government is considering the different transport options for the capital - including Metro North, DART Underground, the Luas Connector, and the DART link to Dublin Airport.

He says each is being assessed on affordability grounds, on the transport and economic benefit it would have for the city, and how many jobs it would create and hopes that one of the projects can be funded.

The Government will publish a new National Development Plan in the coming weeks, which will clarify which infrastructural projects will go ahead.

Iarnród Éireann has submitted a business case for a DART rail link to Dublin Airport to Minister Varadkar.

The project, costing an estimated €200 million, would deliver direct services to the city centre through the construction of a 7km rail line from Clongriffin to the airport.

The projected journey time is estimated at 25 minutes.

Iarnród Éireann was asked by the Minister for Transport a number of months ago to submit a proposal - the business case was prepared by AECOM and Goodbody Economic Consultants.

The study predicts that such a link to the airport would see the number of passengers travelling by DART increase by more than 50%.

The proposed route from Clongriffin would pass through undeveloped land underneath the flightpath to the airport.

Around 500 jobs a year would be created during the construction of the link.

"Employment in the wider Airport environs is predicted to rise to 20,000 persons and some 38 million air passengers will use the Airport in 2030," according to the submission.

"This economic return is enhanced by the fact that construction of the Link will be largely in green field, thus minimising both the capital costs and the disruption during the construction phase."

Iarnród Éireann spokesperson Barry Kenny said there is a strong case for the project in terms of the tourism, environmental and business benefits.