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6th October 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 35 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
€165 million €19 million
Spent on original Metro North project
WASTED HALF OF THIS HAS BEEN
2 Luas lines on southside
A third one in construction
DART to Greystones
Refund in development levies
A revised Metro North transport system linking Dublin city to the airport and Swords has been promised by the government, but work will not commence until 2020. It will then be a further six or seven years in construction, meaning that Swords residents will have to wait until 2027 before they can purchase a ticket for this train. The County Leader has listened to the disbelief of long suffering local commuters and has come to the conclusion that you believe that Metro North will never be delivered. It’s just a fob off. The question on everyone’s lips is why is it taking so long to implement. Prior to the last general election, voters were told that this project was ‘shovel ready’ with everything ready to proceed. All that was missing was the money. We were told that planning and tendering were secured. Now that the money, the main stumbling block is available, why the delay? What will happen to this money should the country fall back into recession in the next five years? This year, the County Leader is celebrating its 21st year in being the number one news delivery media in the North County. In that time, rail to Swords or Metro North has been the primary promise, particu-
WHAT SOUTH DUBLIN POLITICIANS HAVE ACHIEVED
By Patrick Finnegan larly at election time of every political party seeking to win seats in this constituency. Lest anyone think that this is aimed solely at Fine Gael and Labour, the fact is that Fianna Fail are more culpable than any other party, given that they were in power longer than anyone else during that period. Successive Fianna Fail governments have promised to deliver the hot potato that has become Metro North. Now fast forward to the last election, when the Fine Gael/Labour coalition promised to finally deliver the much anticipated rail project, and surprise surprise, the electorate feel conned once again. Strong political leadership is needed in the North County to make sure that projects are delivered
here. Southside representatives have proven their poisoned chalice of Metro North is being longstrength in ensuring that their area has been well fingered to present to whichever party, or parties served by two Luas systems, a third one in the take power then. process of being built and DART that goes as far This view was echoed by local TD, Clare Daly (Ind), as Greystones. Imagine if Ireland's main interna- who has doubts that Metro will ever be delivered. tional airport was located on the southside, would She told the County Leader, “When the governthey be waiting until ment came into office, 2027 for a metro to be Metro North was “On the eve of an delivered there. Our planned and the readers think not.! Council were collecting election - they announce Now that an election is levies for it for years Metro Lite, to be in the air, it appears amounting to €19 that the present coalioperational in 2027. million. This governtion of Fine Gael and ment axed it and now, What a sick joke and insult to Labour have struck on the eve of an electhe people of Swords.” - Daly again. tion, they announce While the present Metro Lite, to be operagovernment may well be re-elected this time, tional in 2027. What a sick joke and insult to the bookies would give long odds on them forming a people of Swords. In other words, they are reinthird successive government, given that it has stating something which was already there, but in never happened before for these parties. Some a poorer, less effective way, assuming that we even suggest that the delay is due to the fact that ever see it at all, which is highly questionable.” the project cannot be delivered and that the Continued on page 15