Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 5

Written Answers. - Dublin Light Rail System.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

237 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the comments made by the chairman of An Taisce who described as unwise his promise to look at an underground option as part of the Dublin light rail system. [5025/96]

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

I have seen a press report of remarks made by the chairman of An Taisce. Policy in relation to light rail is quite clear. The Dublin Transportation Initiative recommended that an on-street light rail system should form part of its overall transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. It recommended against an underground system on economic, financial and accessibility grounds. The Dublin Transportation Initiative strategy has been accepted by the Government as the policy framework for transportation planning in Dublin. The Operational Programme for Transport, agreed by the Government and the European Commission, makes provisions for an expenditure of £200 million on the implementation of the first phase of the on-street light rail network as recommended by Dublin Transportation Initiative. The CIE project team is proceeding with its detailed design and consultation work on the basis of these decisions.

When I launched the public consultation programme on the planned light rail links, I stated that its purpose was to explain the light rail proposals, to listen carefully to any concerns expressed in relation to those proposals and to respond to those concerns where possible.

New legislation will be introduced shortly which, among other things, will provide for a mandatory public inquiry into all aspects of the proposed light rail project. It will enable people who are not fully convinced that light rail is the best option to argue their case and have their views considered.

As I indicated during a recent Seanad debate, any people who have concerns about the light rail proposals should use the opportunities afforded by the public consultation programme and the statutory public inquiry to explain their concerns and have them considered.

Notwithstanding the stated policy position on light rail, I (as the responsible Minister) will be obliged by the legislation to fully and objectively consider the inspector's report on the public inquiry and the submissions made by interested parties before making a final decision on CIE's application for the statutory powers to construct light rail. This requirement holds true for all infrastructure projects which are subject to statutory procedures.