Éamon Ó Cuív: Infrastructure processes are inflating costs
Éamon Ó Cuív criticised current infrastructure planning as slow and costly, arguing that paperwork and repeated studies are delaying obvious projects and driving up costs. He asked the minister whether the system has become counterproductive; the minister agreed and pointed to long-term programmes as the solution.
Critique of current processes
Ó Cuív said that, compared to the period between 2000 and 2010 when a lot of basic infrastructure was built, current projects have become "forever processes". He argued that some things are so obvious that time is wasted on paperwork, "filling up farms, doing studies that don't need anything to be done", and that the process itself - through delay - is the biggest inflator of cost.
Comparison with the motorway programme
The minister replied that the motorway programme showed how strategic, long-term certainty - with money guaranteed and contractors knowing they had decades of work - delivered projects on time, at lower cost by international comparison, and to high quality. That stop-start nature is absent in long-term programmes, which produce better value when commitments are clear.
Strategic rail review and modular approach
The minister said the same approach is now needed in public transport and rail to avoid overwhelming car dependence and eventual gridlock. The strategic rail review is described as a three-decade approach that signals to Irish Rail and contractors that work is coming, allowing a modular, repeatable system - similar platforms, passing loops and electrification - which is quicker and reduces costs.
Political certainty as a condition for progress
Both speakers warned that without multi-annual programmes and political certainty the system will cling to process, driving costs higher and delaying delivery. The minister said the fundamental question for the next government is whether it will continue the shift to public transport and active travel and provide the certainty needed to overcome process obstacles.
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Compared to what was the processes we'd say between 2000 and 2010 when we built an awful lot of basic infrastructure, rail lines, roads and so on, they seem to become forever processes and I would support Deputy Leaden in saying that some things are so obvious that we're wasting time just putting paper together, filling up farms, doing studies that don't need anything. to be done and that I could never understand the system delaying over the obvious. We also know and would you agree that the biggest inflator of cost is not lack of process, it is the process itself because delay is adding huge costs to infrastructure and infrastructure built now compared to five years ago is enormously more expensive. So the systems that were designed to so-called save money by the system are actually costing us a fortune and I was wondering would you agree with that analysis of how we've created a system that's actually defeating its own purpose. Thank you Minister. I 100% agree with you. I think and it's the stop start nature of it and the proof of that is if you look at when we don't do it that way, if you look at when we built out the motorway programme which was done in a strategic long term certainty, money guaranteed and contractors knowing that they had two decades of work, there we were able to deliver at relative by international comparison, relative lower cost and on time and to high quality. We now need to do the same in public transport because we've created a car dependent country that in the end won't work, it will gridlock as well as being unsustainable environmentally. And the strategic rail review is a critical role because it's taking this three decade approach and if we all agree we need to make these investments, we give a signal to Irish rail and contractors that this work is coming. And a modular system, relatively same sort of platform, same sort of passing loops, same sort of electrification process and that way we know that there's a multi-annual programme which makes it modular, regular and quicker which reduces the cost. So you're right and the fundamental question for the next government is are they willing to continue in this direction which this government has started, switching to public transport and active travel and are they willing to give that certainty? Because if they don't and we get caught in process, we'll go nowhere, it'll be very expensive, it'll take for years. Political certainty is probably the most important thing to overcome that process obstacle that the system tends to cling on to. Thank you Minister. Thank you.
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