Sir, – Does anybody believe that turbo-charged “growth” of 15 per cent, road planning from another era, increased numbers of data centres, and encouraging unfettered consumerism across all sectors are compatible with reducing carbon emissions? – Yours, etc,
MARTIN MURRAY, FRIAI
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Lets face it, if we only had an algorithm for accomplishing the new National Development Plan, it actually might get done by 2030. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – During the pandemic in 2020, the NTA made funding available to local authorities for use in cycling and walking projects. Much of this was spent on resurfacing or remarking roads which happened to have unprotected cycle tracks, with no actual improvement in facilities for cyclists or walkers. Will there be any oversight of the NDP to prevent similar happening to the billions earmarked for public transport and active travel? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN McARDLE,
Leixlip,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – No word of Metro North in the latest NDP. Dublin Airport will be hopeful of a return to normality post-Covid and indeed the completion of the new north runway may lead to a substantial increase in airline users and traffic to and from the facility. At present private cars and taxis are the only means of accessing the airport for many. Aircoach and the 747 Dublin Bus route are not really an option for those living in north Dublin. The 16 and 41 Dublin Bus routes will get you to the airport if you don’t mind a little detour through Whitehall, Beaumont and Santry. So all the rhetoric from our politicians about the shift to public transport rings very hollow with regard to accessing not only the airport but the many new housing developments in this catchment area. Looks like the Drumcondra gridlock is set to continue until 2034! The silence from our local Coalition TDs on this decision is deafening! – Yours, etc,
COLM O’ROURKE,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – An apt phrase that could have been used at Monday’s NDP launch. “It’s a long road that has no turning!” – Yours, etc,
HELEN NOONAN,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Andrew Doyle (Letters, October 6th) notes the varying outcomes in journey times and convenience when travelling by car or public transport in parts of Ireland. These effects are the predictable result of decades of investment decisions heavily prioritised around cars and roads. The 2:1 funding proposal for public transport in the National Development Plan aims to improve public transport outcomes, so that public transport can indeed "compete with a reasonable road infrastructure".
Mr Doyle correctly points out the safety limitations of the current N20, and where roads are dangerous, local redesigns and improvements are desirable. However, climate change is also dangerous, with the prospect of ever-increasing catastrophic outcomes if we do not immediately reduce our fossil fuel use. Electric vehicles are not a panacea, as they consume large amounts of energy in their manufacture. The switch to public transport is a key part of decarbonising our society.
Mr Doyle describes the raising of climate issues as “ideological”. This is akin to describing the Covid vaccine programme as ideological; on the contrary, it is a pragmatic response to the evidence-based findings of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which were described by the UN secretary general as a “code red” for humanity. Reducing fossil-fuel use is also a matter of life and death, and completely incompatible with the construction of new roads and motorways. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN WALL,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – I’m becoming concerned about the growing level of cynicism in your letters page. A letter writer (October 6th) describes the National Development Plan as the “Never Delivered Plan”. Yet, not that long ago, the Government was pooh-poohed when it suggested it would deliver a widespread and successful Covid-19 vaccination programme during the summer. We are becoming a nation of grouches. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL BERGIN,
Clane,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – In 2018, a cost-benefit analysis of MetroLink was published by the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. It was carried out by Jacobs and Systra.
At that time, MetroLink comprised the construction of a metro from Estuary (north of Swords) to Charlemont on the Grand Canal and the conversion of the existing Luas Green line to metro as far as Sandyford. It was estimated that the cost of MetroLink would lie between €3 billion and €4 billion.
Subsequently, the scope of MetroLink was reduced significantly. The latest version comprises the construction of a metro from Estuary to a point just north of the Beechwood Luas station in Ranelagh. The conversion of the Luas Green line as far as Sandyford is excluded.
According to media reports, the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland are now briefing Cabinet Ministers that the cost of this smaller project could be €10 billion or even more.
How is it possible that the cost of this smaller project could be at least 2½ times the highest estimated cost of the larger project in 2018?
The public is entitled to receive clarification and explanation from each of the above-named parties. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE BARRETT,
Chairman,
Metro South West Group,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Michael McDowell rhetorically asks how many Luas lines could be built for the theoretical price of the Swords MetroLink (“National Development Plan lacks transparency”, Opinion & Analysis, October 7th). The answer is of course none. Paralysis by analysis has been Official Ireland’s approach ever since the Dublin Rail Rapid Transit Study in 1975. All rail or tram projects built since then have only grudgingly got over the line in the face of a barrage of badly informed criticism. This week’s report, the latest in many over the last 46 years, only confirms that no-one in officialdom will be blamed for doing precisely nothing practical. This of course excludes the commissioning of another report! – Yours, etc,
CORNELIUS LOGUE,
Quigley’s Point,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – A letter (October 5th) referring to the planned motorway projects as “roads to nowhere” is a sign of metropolitan disconnect. The 750,000 residents of highly economically productive counties Cork and Limerick (not to mention adjacent counties) who are connected by the highly dangerous and wholly obsolete N20 will not be remotely surprised by this. – Yours, etc,
JOHN McNAMARA,
Cork.
Sir, – The launch (and relaunch) by the government of another National Development Plan is a strange event. The plan is always a mathematical curiosity, as it never adds up. It’s a teaser as it promises so much, but ultimately it’s a failure because it never remotely gets close to being fully delivered. A 10-year plan by a Government with a couple of years left in power.
It reminds me of doing the lottery when I have my children with me. They get excited because “I am going to win loads of money”. We’re never exactly sure how much. They ask if I win will I buy them certain items and I respond “Yes”, plus loads more. However, ultimately, I never win the jackpot. But no one is really surprised and my kids and I are left with that “What could have been” feeling. Sound familiar? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CULLEN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.