A substantial amount of people's money is being spent on a yearly basis, and most of this spending is very welcome. However, significant moneys have been wasted in cases like the Leinster House bicycle shed and the delays in the construction of the national children's hospital. The delays to metro north could cost tens of millions of euro. This long-delayed and vital infrastructure is costing billions more than when it was first proposed. This brings me to another project that has been proposed for many years in my constituency and neighbouring constituencies. I refer to the metro west project, which was cancelled during the recession by Leo Varadkar and pushed back until 2035. For those unfamiliar with it, it is a metro link from Tallaght through Clondalkin, Lucan and Liffey Valley shopping centre into Dublin 15 and around to Blanchardstown shopping centre, the National Aquatic Centre and the Dublin economic zone, where it is proposed to have up to 50,000 workers; and from Meakstown to the airport. The proposed metro line has been protected by various councils through county development plans and is mostly a greenfield site. Last week, it was announced that the M50 motorway in Dublin is officially at capacity and maxxed out with record traffic levels exceeding Celtic tiger numbers leading to severe congestion. It is now carrying 160,000 vehicles every day on average. The peak is closer to 190,000, making it Ireland's busiest road. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has acknowledged that the motorway is at its limit with little more physical capacity to add forcing a reliance on other solutions. This has led to extremely long commute times of sometimes more than three hours, gridlock for minor incidents and a negative impact on the economy, people and surrounding communities because it does not just affect the M50. It affects our community as well when the traffic is backed up all through the N3, through Blanchardstown and Dublin 15 and up to Tyrrelstown. Experts and officials point to a significant investment in public transport such as DART and Luas, better cycling infrastructure and policy changes to shift commuters away from cars as the only real fix. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has stated that it has done all it can physically do and that solutions require significant policy changes, increased public transport and investment in alternatives. Metro west would provide links to the new DART+ rail line, which will go from Maynooth to the city centre. It is designed to link at St. Mochtas Football Club in Clonsilla with DART+, providing a direct link to the city centre. It would also link with the huge developments now being built at Kellystown, Clonsilla and Castleknock, and provide transport links to the Blanchardstown Centre, the National Aquatic Centre, the sports campus at Abbotstown, the Dublin economic zone and on to the airport. Given our road network system is now pretty much at capacity in the city, is it not time we have a real look at metro west? Is it now time to look at funding for the future? We know if we delay, then it will cost billions and billions more. This has been in the planning for 20 plus years. It was delayed because of the recession. At the time, maybe you could understand that but now there is no excuse. There is no excuse whatsoever, given the total gridlock on the M50 and surrounding areas, not to proceed with metro west. I urge the Minister, when he talks to his colleagues around the Cabinet table, to bring this forward. We have been talking about this for seven or eight years now. Let us bring it forward and get it delivered for people right the way from Tallaght all the way to the airport.

Sentiment score: 0.03