Taoiseach performs Metro U-turn over claims it’s too expensive for green light

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has ruled out as too expensive the proposed Dublin metro - one of the Government’s central transport commitments in its Programme for Government.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday Mr Ahern said the logistics of constructing the metro line were being examined, but stressed the excessive cost of the plan would unjustifiably prevent investment in other initiatives.

Because of the massive cost of the project Mr Ahern said the metro could not be built before 2007 in line with the Government’s pre-election commitment.

Although former Transport Minister Seamus Brennan had settled on an estimated cost of €1.2bn, a previous Rail Procurement Agency estimate had put the metro’s cost at as much as €4.8bn.

However the current proposal - for a line to Dublin Airport - was only the first stage in an anticipated city-wide network which KMPG estimated would have cost the Government e1bn a year for 20 years.

The Taoiseach’s U-turn on the metro proposal was immediately attacked by the opposition who accused Mr Ahern of making illogical arguments.

Green Party Transport spokesperson Eamon Ryan said the Taoiseach had made it clear the Dublin metro is unlikely to be approved by the Cabinet.

“The Taoiseach promoted an alternative CIE rail plan as being ‘cheaper and more viable’ than the metro.

“This is despite the fact that the outgoing Minister of Transport made it perfectly clear that the alternative CIE rail connection to the airport was not a proper solution to the transport needs of the north side of Dublin,” he said.

Mr Ryan also disputed the scheme was too costly. “The Taoiseach’s twisted logic is that the proposed metro would swallow all the capital budget.

“The reality is that the projected construction cost of €1.2 billion for the metro is no more than the Government gave to the National Roads Authority (NRA) this year,” he said.

Fine Gael Transport Spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said the move was a complete breach of faith by the Government.

“This current Government went to the country with a full-colour, glossy London Underground-style metro plan a mere two years ago.

“How can the public, particularly commuters, believe anything this Government tells them?

“Without even having the grace to blush, the Taoiseach effectively removed the central spine of the planned Dublin transport network with a throwaway remark in the Dáil today,” she said.