Back of an envelope estimations were sufficient for the Luas which was 169% over budget at €750 million, the port tunnel was currently €500 million over budget but when it came to Government concern for economic justification it was the western rail corridor which would have to meet the selective requirements of politicians who had one set of criteria for Dublin and a much more demanding one for the West of Ireland.
Responding to the suggestion on Friday last by Minister for the Environment Mr. Dick Roche, that the proposed Western Rail Corridor would have to be economically justified, Independent MEP Marian Harkin accused the Government of speaking out of both sides of its mouth. “We have Minister for community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the same week suggesting that the Western Rail Corridor will become a reality within a surprisingly short period while his cabinet colleague Mr. Roche raises the usual blockage device of economic justification selectively used for the West but ignored when it comes to infrastructural investment in the East”, Marian Harkin said.
It could be deduced from Minister O’Cuiv’s statement that a few more briars would be removed from the existing western rail corridor before the next election but Minister Roche would ensure that the northern part of the line would remain a pie in the sky line with the help of the usual economists and consultants brought in to prove non-viability, Marian Harkin said.
The present Government’s attitude to the West was also evident in its decision, up to now, not to supply gas throughout Connacht or Ulster, she said. Gas throughout the West and rail throughout the West were fully justified and could be provided at a fraction of the huge capital overruns on projects in the South and East region, she stressed.
“It would be helpful if Government Ministers would speak with one voice in relation to investment in the West and commit to redressing the huge imbalance in delivery which continues to prevail between the country’s two economic regions”, Marian Harkin said.
