Vol. 517 No. 1
50 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if it is the Government's intention to proceed with the Luas plan as approved in May 1998 in view of the media reports regarding forthcoming Cabinet consideration of a new complete metro underground system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8710/00]
To date I have granted light railway orders to CIE for the Tallaght to Abbey Street, Line A, and Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green, Line B, lines. Preparatory work is continuing on these lines and both are on target for completion in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
I have also approved CIE's proposal to extend Line A to Connolly Station in so far as it relates to the development from Abbey Street to Store Street. It is my intention to make the required light railway order for this section of the line when an acceptable proposal for a link between the Store Street stop and Connolly Station has been received. In addition, a geo-technical feasibility study of the city centre underground section has been completed and the technical feasibility of constructing it has been confirmed.
The Government confirmed its commitment to Dublin light rail in a decision of 21 March when it approved a firm budget estimate of £185 million for the capital costs of the Tallaght to Abbey Street line and approved, in principle, the provision of £24 million for the extension of this line to Connolly Station. The Government also decided that a public private partnership approach should be adopted for the operation of the Tallaght to Connolly Station line. This will involve the award of an operating franchise to a private operator following a competitive tendering process.
At its forthcoming meetings, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructural Development and PPP will discuss the issue of light rail in the wider context of the future public transport requirements in the Dublin area. Following these discussions, I will submit specific proposals to the Government.
Will the Minister give a simple clarification regarding Luas? As I understand it, the last Government decided to implement the Luas project at a cost of £220 million. In May 1998, this was changed to an option costing more than £400 million. In his letter of resignation, Mr. Joyce said Luas will cost £1 billion. Now we hear that Luas will not be implemented by CIE but under the PPF. I then read that there are plans to axe Luas for a radical £4 billion metro line. Will the Minister clarify whether we will get phase one or two of Luas or will it be privatised? Given that the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, now says he is deeply uneasy about the Luas project, will we get a new metro line? There are also reports of an underground line from Ranelagh to Broadstone and a further line to Cabra, Mulhuddart and Blanchardstown. What line will we get?
Contrary to newspaper reports, when the Andersen study was published 12 months ago, it was announced the project would be a public private partnership which would be open to competitive tendering. This was reaffirmed when, yesterday week, the Government approved a budget estimate of £185 million for the capital costs of the Tallaght to Abbey Street line and approved in principle the provision of £24 million for the extension of this line to Connolly Station and further. The cost will be greater for an enhanced proposal which was not envisaged by the previous Government. I do not blame the Opposition for approaching—
We are confused.
—the matter of the former Luas line with paucity. However, since that was proposed, information on traffic needs and DTO studies have compelled us to provide a service with greater capacity. We are studying the matter comprehensively and there will be presentations on 11 and 18 April. As well as Luas, there will be a more comprehensive underground service throughout the city.
How much will it cost?
Will it be a metro?
I do not know what system it will be, but it will be underground.
While the Minister is studying new proposals and recasting the former ones, 1,000 new cars a week are being sold in Dublin and it is projected that the traffic speed here will be reduced to nine kilometres per hour, which is fast walking pace. The Minister comes forward with a new blueprint each month while all the past ones have not been implemented. Will she clarify if CIE will have a role and is Mr. Joyce correct that 50% of the public subsidy for transport will be eaten up by the last phase of Luas, not including the £4 billion project?
Absolutely not. Deputy Yates may know more about what Mr. Joyce thinks than I do. Yesterday week, the Government approved a firm budget estimate of £185 million. Deputy Yates may think this is not true but it is a formal Government decision on the capital costs of the Tallaght line.
I did not say that. I asked if CIE will have a role.
The Government also decided that a public private partnership approach should be adopted for the operation of the Tallaght to Connolly Station line. This will involve awarding an operating franchise to a private operator following a competitive tendering process. This was announced 12 months ago and reaffirmed when we took the decision on capital expenditure.
Will the tunnel start—
We have exceeded the time limit.
—in St. Stephen's Green or Ranelagh or does the Minister know?
We must proceed to Question No. 51.
The Minister does not know.
I do, but there is no point in filling the Deputy's mind with too much information.
