Most companies are not satisfied with the state of infrastructure delivery in Dublin, according to a survey by the Dublin Chamber.
Almost 45% of Chamber members are dissatisfied with the delivery of water, wastewater, energy grid, public transport and housing infrastructure in the capital under the National Development Plan (NDP), while a further 9% are very unsatisfied.
The findings are “of little surprise” to Dublin Chamber, said head of public affairs Stephen Browne. “We have been banging the drum to accelerate delivery, looking for detailed milestones and deadlines, but progress has been glacial.”
Much public attention has been given in recent months to cost overruns and delays at the National Children’s Hospital and the restrictive annual cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.
Browne complained of there being “very little urgency in the setting of timelines for projects that are vitally important to the continued development of Dublin” such as the Metro, Dart+, the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project and the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme, which are not forecasted for completion until the 2030s.
“Population projections outlined in the National Planning Framework have in the past underestimated growth in Dublin, this has led to underinvestment and lack of urgency in major infrastructure projects, this cannot be the case again once the Department of Housing and Local Government finalises its latest revision of the framework,” he continued.
“Dublin businesses have been clear for some time, that if sufficient investment in planned projects is not carried out, and on time it will be at the detriment of future generations, while having serious implications for continued investment and growth in our capital.”
Browne concluded by saying that Dublin, as Ireland’s only international city of scale, needs investment in housing as well as public transport, water and wastewater infrastructure and the grid.
“The issues are not complex, the problems have been identified. What is needed now is the political courage to see them to completion on a reasonable timeline.”
Dublin Chamber is Ireland’s largest chamber of commerce with more than 1,000 member companies in the greater Dublin area.
(Pic: RollingNews.ie)
