Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Jul 1995

Vol. 455 No. 4

Written Answers. - Light Rail Transport Lines.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

144 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the way in which the figures of £70.1 million and £79.2 million have been reached as estimated costs for the Cabinteely and Tallaght light rail transport lines; the year in which those costs were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12161/95]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

145 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason for the negligible difference in the published estimated costs of providing the Tallaght and Cabinteely light rail transport lines, particularly when the line of the Cabinteely route is largely intact and in public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12162/95]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

146 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the definition of the Cabinteely light rail transport line, also described as the Dundrum line and the Harcourt Street line; if phase one of that line will terminate at Sandyford Industrial Estate rather than Dundrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12163/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 145 and 146 together.

In the final report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative, which is due to be published in the near future, the costs, in 1993 prices, of implementing light rail lines to Tallaght and Cabinteely are estimated at £79.2 million and £70.1 million respectively. The recommended route of the Cabinteely line follows the old Harcourt Street railway alignment. These figures represent estimated costs in respect of route related light rail system items such as trackwork, signalling, power supply, utility diversions, stations, bridge and other construction works, etc. Allowance has also been made in the final report for non-route related network costs of £93.6 million, in 1993 prices, in respect of the basic three light rail links recommended by the DTI. This figure relates to the cost of rolling stock, depot facilities, land acquisition and safety-security measures over the three links. The estimated cost of land acquisition is small and is included in total non-route related network costs; this means that land acquisition is not included in the route related costs of £79.2 million and £70.1 million in respect of the Tallaght and Cabinteely light rail lines.

The objective is to have two priority phases of the light rail network constructed in the period up to 1999. In this context my Department in conjunction with a high level project team in CIE has for some time been engaged in detailed planning and preparatory work to advise on the optimum combination of light rail links recommended by the DTI to be constructed by 1999 on the basis of a number of criteria, including financial performance, congestion alleviation, environmental impact and ease of construction. All the bodies involved in the planning and provision of transportation in the Dublin area are cooperating in this work which embraces all aspects of the light rail network. The provisional finding arising from this work, which is subject to more detailed examination in a number of respects, including detailed route alignment, is that links to Tallaght and Dundrum should be constructed by 1999 and this position was noted and approved by the Government in October 1994.