Further delays and 'drastic cost overruns' to Dublin Metrolink not acceptable, says Bacik
Suggestions of "drastic cost overruns and further delays" to Dublin's Metrolink are unacceptable, Ivana Bacik has said.
The Labour leader said her party is committed to the rollout of the project as a vitally important piece of public infrastructure for the city, but said it is conscious of the costs and delays to date.
Ms Bacik said she will be seeking more clarity and information from the Government regarding suggestions made by Sean Sweeney, who is leading the project, that the metro could go up to 40% over budget and miss the current 2025 deadline.
Mr Sweeney made the comments in an interview with the Business Post which Ms Bacik said left her very concerned.
"We have seen enormous cost overruns and delays, we are all very conscious of that and on other big public infrastructure projects," she said, citing the Children's Hospital as a prominent example.
"But, for Labour, we also do defend where we have seen public infrastructure built on time and within budget."
Speaking at the annual James Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill in Dublin, Labour TD Marie Sherlock said there needs to be concrete assurances that the property owners protection scheme is extended to those impacted by the project.
I am thinking of all those homeowners who do not have foundations under their houses, whose houses were built in the 1800s and saying 'are we going to have a home at the end of this?'
That is going to be critical now in terms of providing those assurances to homeowners," said Ms Sherlock.
The Metrolink has led to some criticism of the planning process, but Ms Sherlock said care must be taken not to lay the blame entirely at the feet of those who put forward objections.
"We were at the oral hearing last year, Transport Infrastructure Ireland themselves did not get their plans fully right and have had to extend the planning system," she said, saying that those putting forward the proposal must also ensure that they are adequately prepared.
Dublin Fingal East TD Duncan Smith said that he is deeply frustrated and angered by the years of delays calling for the project to be given "a proper impetus" adding that if "that means another look at the planning system" he would be in favour of that.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
33 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Government will be on 'the wrong side' of history over Israeli bonds decision, opposition says
The Government has been warned it is on the "the wrong side" of history after rejecting a motion to prevent the facilitation of Israeli war bonds. Opposition parties united behind a motion demanding the Government enact emergency legislation to explicitly force the Central Bank to stop facilitating the sale of Israel bonds. The Social Democrats motion, supported by Sinn Féin, Labour, and People Before Profit-Solidarity also called on the coalition to advise the bank that "by acting as the enabling cog in Israel's fund-raising machine in the EU, it is putting the State at risk of a charge of complicity in genocide". However, the Government's countermotion stated that it had "received advice from the Attorney General that recently proposed legislation to introduce 'restrictive measures' was not compatible with our obligations as members of the EU and in conflict with Article 215 and Article 63 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU". The motion with the amendment put forward by the Government was then passed by 85 votes to 71. Speaking in the Dáil ahead of the vote, finance minister Paschal Donohoe said: "Despite the human feelings I have and the determination of the Government to respond to this, I have to recognise the law with regard to the EU and the law that recognises the independent operation of the Central Bank of Ireland." But Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan claimed that the Government was "hiding behind technicalities" and could act on the matter if it wanted to. Let us be clear about this. Genocide is taking place and is being part-funded by the sale of Israeli bonds including in Europe, which is being facilitated by the Irish Central Bank. Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty described Mr Donohoe's response as "shameful", adding: "History will show that the minister is on the wrong side of this issue. He has used carefully constructed words to tell us what we cannot do. "However, the reality is that if Government wants to initiate national measures that will ensure that the Central Bank does not sign off on a prospective and therefore, not facilitate the sale of these war bonds in Ireland, then it can do so."
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
UK Government's £50m pledge for Casement Park an enormous step forward – Michelle O'Neill
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly comment on Government allocation of £50 million to Casement Park in the Spending Review.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Q&A: What is the pension payment error all about and can the money be recouped?
Unions and representatives of retired civil servants say they are awaiting detail of the errors made in relation to the pensions of their current or former members . However, there is concern that some of the issues could require legislation and that senior politicians could be impacted by any changes to the law. What has happened? On Tuesday the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said 'serious and systemic operational issues' had been identified at the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), which employs about 850 people and handles payroll administration for all government departments. The belief is these errors have resulted in some retired civil servants being underpaid in their pensions; incorrect pension contributions having been deducted from current and previous ministers; and the wrong amount of tax being deducted from the lump sums paid to about 30 senior civil servants upon retirement. With a review of 13,000 retirees' positions under way, however, and an external audit of the NSSO to be undertaken, it is uncertain how the situation will develop. READ MORE What will happen in respect of people who owe or are owed money? Mr Chambers said he was committed to ensuring 'all monies owed to the State are fully recouped and monies owed to individuals are refunded'. The former is likely to create issues, however, especially in relation to the larger amounts, with one retiree said to owe €280,000. With Mr Chambers suggesting some ministers may be asked to repay more than €30,000, the tax issue could be considerable. Details of the time frame have not been clarified, but Ciaran Rohan of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants says recouping overpayments stretching back more than four years could leave retirees, or potentially some politicians, substantially out of pocket. This is because current legislation would only allow the reclaiming of the extra tax paid as a result of receiving the extra money for the past four years, even if the overpayments stretched further back. Could that be changed? Only by legislation, says employment lawyer Barry Kenny, who says the issue means 'the original error has financial implications beyond a simple repayment issue'. It also has the potential to make it a political one. How could the money be recouped? A government circular in 2018 sets out the various ways in which overpayments can be reclaimed but there is no provision for anything like a liability of €280,000. The intention should be to recoup all the money and ideally within a year, it suggests, usually by deductions from pay or pensions of up to 8 per cent of the gross amount the person is receiving. But these people can afford to repay, no? The largest figures relate to people who had pension funds on retirement worth more than €2 million. That would certainly suggest they are well off but coming up with the funds to repay a six-figure sum is likely to be regarded as an issue. Cloda Ryan of the Retired Civil and Public Servants Association (RCPSA), which has some 7,000 members, says the vast majority of amounts involved are likely to be far smaller but still have the potential to cause problems for the pensioners concerned. 'Contrary to public perception, the majority of Civil Service pensioners have moderate pensions, in many cases lower than they would receive under the social welfare State pension for which, in general, civil servants recruited before April 6th, 1995 do not qualify.' The organisation is seeking assurances 'that no recovery of pension overpayments would take place without consultation and agreement with each pensioner affected'. And if an agreement can't be reached? 'Any civil servant faced with a request to refund money, large or small, should take legal advice to clarify the legal basis for the demand to repay and whether the figures are accurate,' says Mr Kenny. He says where the validity is established, 'reasonable' deductions or instalments would need to be agreed.
