Vol. 423 No. 4
133 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline her policy on a light rail or tram system network for Dublin city; if she will issue a policy directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As I indicated to the House earlier this year, my Department, as part of its input into Phase 2 of the Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI), appointed consultants to undertake a detailed examination of the possibilities of a light rail system for Dublin. That work was completed and conveyed to the DTI itself. Phase 2 of the DTI is now almost completed and an interim report is expected to be available within the next few weeks. This report will form an integral part of the input into negotiations on EC Structural Funds for the period after 1993.
I expect that the DTI Report will contain radical proposals involving bus and light rail options to resolve Dublin's traffic congestion problems. Without wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the DTI, I believe that there are many advantages for Dublin in light rail technology and that as part of an integrated public transport strategy, light rail offers an innovative way of addressing some of the major transport problems of Dublin, including traffic congestion, pollution and a decline in the inner city heart of Dublin. However, it is clear that such a major investment is beyond the capacity of the Exchequer, even allowing for the possibility of some investment by the private sector in the development of a light rail system. Any light rail option would be dependent on the availability of substantial levels of financial assistance from the EC authorities for the proposed investment and I intend to pursue that approach in the months ahead.
