Sir, - I feel compelled to reply to the criticism of Tom Coffey, in his letter of September 23rd, to the political stance which I have taken on the contentious issue of the construction of the three new rapid light rail systems for Dublin City. I support the building of these three proposed rail systems, but subject to clarification of the outstanding concerns and objections which have been raised in a well intentioned manner.
Firstly, with regard to the question of the tunnelling aspects to the LUAS plan, I had previously called on the Government to publish its internal findings and commissioned reports on the cost of the tunnelling of LUAS underground, and its likely effects. The Government has been trenchant in its persistence in not permitting the publications of these findings. It is a matter of protecting public policy, or safeguarding our national security, that the results of the Government's reports on the tunnelling effects of LUAS have not been published. Or is it simply an act of a government acting in an arrogant, slipshod and intolerant manner intent on bulldozing the LUAS through as it stands?
Secondly, the fact that when these three new lines are built there will be no interconnection between the new systems and the DART line, does not augur well for an integrated approach to enhancing public transport for Dublin City. In reality, what this means is that Dublin will have two separate rapid rail systems in place with no interconnection between them - a proposal which is daft.
Thirdly, Mr Coffey in his letter contended that on the issue of constructing a rail link to Dublin Airport, proposals in this question can be found in the DTI Phase 2 final report. This assertion - is simply not good enough. What is needed is not a pious aspiration encrypted in an important report on the state of transport problems in Dublin City, but a Government committed to financially funding a rail link to Dublin Airport.
I would remind your readers that passenger traffic for Dublin Airport is now eight million a year, and such a rail link should be built with public, European and private funding. If the Government suggests that it is operating behind a pane of glass on this issue, there must be stained windows in front of our decision makers. Yours, etc
European Parliament Office, Jean Monnet Centre,
43 Molesworth Street.
Dublin 2.