No funding has as yet been allocated for the multi-billion euro Dublin Metro project, which is still at the planning stage, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, told the Dáil. The Government had approved the procurement process for a metro in Dublin, however.

He was replying to Mr Denis Naughten (FG Longford-Roscommon), who said the Dublin metro was obviously not one of his priorities. In the light of a consultants' report indicating the project would costs €20 million and would take 10 years to complete, would the Government shelve the proposal and consider more feasible alternatives such as a heavy rail link to Dublin Airport or the opening of the Phoenix Park tunnel?

A shuttle between Heuston and Connolly stations was one of a number of options, Mr Brennan replied. It was important, however, to integrate the public transport system in the capital. If the tunnel was possible on technical and financial grounds, he would favour it.

Since the Dublin Port tunnel was a major factor in resolving traffic congestion, Mr Naughten said, what was being done about the "10 per cent of vehicles" which would be forced to travel through the city centre?

The Dublin Port Company's survey in June and July this year had indicated that 98 per cent of all trucks were less than 4.6 metres in height, the Minister replied, the height restriction that applied to the tunnel. In the circumstances, he was satisfied the issue had been dealt with, he told Mr Naughten.

The tunnel would provide enormous benefits to the city of Dublin and the economy as a whole when completed in 2005, he told Mr Finian McGrath, (Independent, Dublin North Central) who asked the Minister if he was concerned at "the massive cost" of the €450 million project and that it was running three months late.

The project was running late, Mr Brennan conceded, and the €450 million was just the contract price. "If one includes land acquisition and other costs, the figure is €650 million." Mr McGrath also asked about safety in light of the Mount Blanc tunnel fire in which 60 people died. Mr Brennan said he had been assured that the tunnel met the highest safety standards.