Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 6

Written Answers. - Railway Stations.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

145 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the cost of the Barrow Street DART station; the original costings; the reason for the overrun of expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4897/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

In 1996, Iarnród Éireann sought European regional development fund grant aid for the construction of a number of new stations and the upgrading of some existing stations. These included Kilcock, Drumcondra, Clontarf Road and Barrow Street. The total cost of the package was estimated at approximately £5 million, of which £2.2 million was included for Barrow Street. This was an indicative cost estimate and before any detailed design or precise cost estimates had been prepared.

Iarnród Éireann subsequently commenced detailed design work and costings on the station and submitted the project for planning permission in 1997. Final planning permission was received in mid-1999 and Iarnród Éireann then went to tender, based on the approved design and more complete costings. Work commenced in autumn 1999 and was completed in December 2000. The station opened on 22 January 2001.

The final cost of the station was £4.4 million. The contracted work on buildings and platforms amounted to £2.1 million. A further £1.5 million was expended on track work, signalling and alterations to overhead line equipment. Approximately £0.6 million was spent on relocating a machine maintenance depot from the site. Iarnród Éireann's project management cost of £0.2 million accounts for the balance.