Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 5

Written Answers. - Light Rail Project.

Richard Bruton

Question:

172 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the latest costings of the various elements of Luas and of the metro system which are in the Dublin Transportation Office's strategy; his views on the timing of implementation of each element; and his estimate of the costing of an alternative heavy rail connection to Dublin Airport. [20926/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

The current approved budget for the Luas lines from Tallaght to Abbey Street, Line A; from Sandyford to St. Stephens Green, line B, and Abbey Street to Connolly Station, line C is €675 million and the contractual completion dates for construction on the project are October 2003 for line A; December 2003 for line B and March 2004 for line C. On the current status of the project, the Railway Procurement Agency RPA has been advised by the main contractor that the timetable is under pressure and delays of the order of three to four months may arise. I understand the board will consider the matter shortly and I await to hear the board's assessment of the situation. The RPA is also considering the extension of the light rail network, as proposed by the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO and I await proposals in that regard. The DTO strategy estimated the construction cost of the full metro system at €7.2 billion and of additional Luas lines at €1.4 billion, in 2001 prices.

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 through the city centre to Shanganagh. The metro is to be developed by the RPA, as a public private part nership. The RPA is now finalising 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 time scales, 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. I have already indicated that I wish to see a rail link to Dublin Airport constructed in the shortest possible time frame. The DTO considered that the metro represented the best option for serving Dublin Airport with a rail based public transport link and I have no proposal for a heavy rail link to Dublin Airport. I await the RPA analysis.