Vol. 474 No. 7
46 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the work which has been done by the former Governor of the Central Bank on the LUAS proposals; the number of studies to date on LUAS; and the further studies, if any, he is planning on the light rail plan. [3839/97]
Mr. Doyle's contract involves the preparation of a synopsis on issues relating to the Dublin light rail project based on, inter alia, an examination of relevant documentation interviews with interested parties including CIÉ, local authorities, the Dublin Transportation Office and the Garda; participation as an observer at meetings involving the above organisations.
Since the December 1995 launch of the CIÉ public consultation programme in relation to the Tallaght-Dundrum light rail line numerous studies have been prepared by the CIE Project Team and I have no function in relation to these. My Department has commissioned one study which was a comparative socio-economic evaluation of the Tallaght-Ballymun and Tallaght-Dundrum lines. The results of the study were published in October 1996. I have no plans for any further specific studies at this time.
A monitoring group, representative of my Department, the Department of Finance, the CIE Project Team, the EU commission and the External Evaluator to the Operational Programme for Transport, monitors progress on the light rail project and is assisted in that task by independent consultants.
