Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 3

Written Answers - Light Rail Project.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

54 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of contacts made with her Department by the EU in relation to further delays in progressing the Luas project; if she has satisfied herself that EU funding of the full project will be available, regardless of the length of time by which commencement of construction is delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6065/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

There are regular departmental contacts and meetings with the EU Commission by means of which the Commission is kept fully aware of developments on the light rail project. In some cases these are initiated by departmental staff and in other cases by Commission officials. The most recent meeting was on 9 February 1998.

In addition, the formal monitoring committees, on which the Commission is represented, are kept up to date with developments in relation to the transport projects. The position on light rail was outlined at the monitoring committee for the Community Support Framework (CSF) on 29 July 1997 and on 11 December 1997 and at the meeting of the monitoring committee for the operational programme for transport on 23 October 1997.

I also briefed Commissioner Wulf-Mathies in relation to the project at my meeting with her on 28 November last.

There are also regular meetings of the monitoring group for the light rail project which is chaired by my Department and on which the Commission is represented.

In my statements to this House on light rail I have always made it clear that there are timetables to be met in qualifying for EU aid. Under EU Structural Funds regulations only expenditure incurred up to end 2000 is eligible for grant assistance but the Commission has a discretion to extend this deadline for a further year. Such a decision would facilitate the full draw down of EU funds in respect of the project, based on a completion date of the end of 2001. There is also a requirement that commitments be entered into before the end of 1999.

As I have stated previously in replies to parliamentary questions, a review of EU funding allocated for the light rail project will take place shortly when the results of the study of the underground option are available. Among the issues which will be taken into account in the review will be the likely implementation timetable for the light rail system and the optional use of the EU funding in the period to 2001.