Paul Murphy: Slams decade-long delay to Metrolink and public transport

Paul Murphy criticised Government delays to Metrolink, Lewis and other light rail expansion, the Dart expansion and the interconnector, saying the promise to "prioritise" has been hollowed by years of postponement. He warned that the NTA's Greater Dublin Area Strategy 2022 to 2042 sets only modest targets and that the emphasis on electric cars risks sidelining investment in free, green and frequent public transport.

Critique of prioritisation

The speaker argued that calling these projects a priority rings false when delivery is being delayed for a decade and said "the word prioritise loses all meaning in that context." He highlighted the contrast between talk of major carbon cuts in transport and simultaneous cuts to vital public transport investment.

Targets in the NTA Greater Dublin Area Strategy 2022 to 2042

Paul Murphy quoted the NTA strategy, saying its ambition is that "in over 20 years' time" morning public transport use would increase by 4 per cent, by 20 per cent to 23.9 per cent, and that car usage would be reduced by less than 10 per cent. He described those figures as indicative of a low level of ambition for the region's transport future.

Emissions and investment priorities

The speaker pointed out the inconsistency between ambitious-sounding targets such as up to a 50 per cent cut in transport carbon emissions and the decision to cut public transport investment the following week. He criticised the policy emphasis on electric cars and argued this distracts from the need for investment in free, green and frequent public transport.

Funding and National Development Plan figures

Paul Murphy noted the NDP figure cited in the debate of $165 billion over the next ten years and said public transport is currently on a two-to-one basis within that plan. He used those figures to underline his argument that the Government's stated priorities are not matched by the investment and timelines proposed.