The failure to include the Dublin Port Tunnel in a new European-wide review of tunnel safety is very disappointing.

There is confusion over why the Dublin Port Tunnel is not part of the new safety assessment scheme with allegations that the National Roads Authority (NRA) failed to make the European Tunnel Assessment Programme (Eurotap) aware that they wished the Dublin Port Tunnel to be included in this major safety review and invigilation process. Eurotap will carry out a €4.5 million EU commissioned safety audit of road tunnels throughout the EU to ensure that tunnel safety standards are in compliance with a 2004 EU directive on road safety.

There have been ongoing question marks raised about health and safety matters in the Tunnel since it opened including the operation of the critical Scada safety system, the number of unscheduled shutdowns that have occurred in the Tunnel to date and the overall performance of the Tunnel's operator, Transroute.

Given these problems it is extraordinary that the Dublin Port Tunnel will not be part of the independent safety audit. It is clear that Transport Minister Dempsey must now urgently investigate why the NRA did not ensure that the Port Tunnel was included in the Europe-wide safety review and request if possible the late inclusion of the Port Tunnel in the Eurotap programme. It is also unclear whether Minister Dempsey and the NRA requested the inclusion of the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork in the Eurotap review.

I intend to raise this matter with the CEO of the NRA Mr. Fred Barry at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee.