Tony Gregory
Question:223 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport his plans for an underground metro for Dublin; and the timescale involved. [18528/02]
Written Answers. - Rail Network.
The proposal to develop a metro in Dublin forms an essential part of the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, strategy document A Platform for Change 2000-2016. The DTO considered that the metro represented the best option for serving Dublin Airport with a rail-based public transport link.
In January 2002, the Government approved the commencement of the procurement process for phase 1 of the Dublin metro involving a line from Dublin Airport and Blanchardstown to the city centre and Shanganagh. The metro is to be developed by the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, as a public private partnership.
The RPA has been carrying out all of the necessary preparatory work for phase 1 and a notice requesting expressions of interest was placed in relevant publications in April of this year. Over 30 responses were received from interested companies and consortia. The RPA subsequently carried out a market consultation exercise with respondents.
The RPA is now developing the business case for phase 1 of the metro. The business case, which will include a cost benefit analysis, a financing model, system and route options, the associated potential timescales, and the estimated cost over the lifetime of the project, is to be presented to me in the coming weeks and I will then assess these proposals.