asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the action, if any, he intends to take in the light of the motion passed by Dáil Éireann on 7 December 1988 which called on the Government to examine ways and means of building, as is practicable, a rapid rail link from Tallaght, Dublin 24, to the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Tallaght (Dublin) Rapid Rail Link.
20.
In the course of the debate on the motion referred to by the Deputy, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, explained the Government position about the question of extending the DART system to other areas of the city.
The possibility of extending the DART system to areas, including Tallaght, was examined on a number of occasions in recent years and the decisions not to proceed with it were determined by the likely costs involved and the state of the Exchequer's finances. In the circumstances, rather than allow uncertainty to continue, the Government decided last year that proposals for the extension of DART should not be proceeded with.
At the same time, the Chairman of CIE was requested to prepare public transport investment plans for the Dublin area involving bus based options or diesel services on existing lines. The report from the chairman contains bus proposals which would impact on the Tallaght area. These are being examined in the relevant Government Departments. I have been informed that Bus Átha Cliath recently introduced at peak periods five additional buses between the city and Tallaght and a new local-link service in the area. In addition, that company plans to introduce an additional minibus to provide a better service on the existing local-link services in the area.