Varadkar’s Metro West decision premature - McGuinness

Cllr David McGuinness has described as “short sighted and premature” the decision to shelve the Metro West project.

McGuinness said, “While everyone recognises that to commence construction of this project was unlikely in the short term, to not advance it to a shovel ready status is the wrong decision and shows a worrying lack of vision for public transport in Dublin West by Minister Varadakar.

Minister Varadkar’s comments about new communities not having materialised will also come as a huge surprise to his constituents in the many new estates in Carpenterstown, Clonsilla , Ongar, Waterville and elsewhere.

“I would now call on Minister Varadkar to reconsider this decision and allow the planning process to proceed to a shovel ready status.

“I would also call on the other candidates, particularly Labour’s Patrick Nulty, and the FG candidate when chosen to support my position. Failure to do so will just confirm that if elected they will sit mutely on the Government backbenches. If elected, I am guaranteeing that the people of Dublin West will have a strong voice in Leinster House fighting for them.

“Minister Varadkar should now make a clear statement to the people of Dublin West setting out which rail transport projects will, or will not, be proceeding. It is not good enough for the electorate of Dublin West to have to wait for the Comprehensive Spending Review. Projects such as the Metro North, the Luas to Broombridge, the Interconnector, and the electrification of the Maynooth line for Dart type services are all of huge importance to rail-users in Dublin West. Leo Varadkar and Joan Burton need to make a case for them at the Cabinet table.”