Vol. 566 No. 1
574 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will discuss with the Railway Procurement Agency the need to extend the proposed Luas line from Tallaght through the city centre to Dublin port; if his attention has been drawn to the particular interest of the people of Tallaght in the project and to the benefits of such a link which would access jobs and the ferries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12211/03]
On its establishment in December 2001, the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, was asked specifically to examine the possibilities for developing the proposals in the Dublin Transportation Office strategy document, A Platform for Change.
In line with the DTO strategy, the RPA has informed me that it is now working closely with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, DDDA, Dublin City Council, DCC, and the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, in developing proposals for extending the Tallaght to Connolly Station line to a terminal stop in the docklands, line C1.
A public consultation exercise for the proposed extension was launched recently. When the public consultation exercise and other preparatory issues have been concluded, the RPA will prepare a business case and cost-benefit analysis on the merits of the proposal, including a route alignment study and funding proposals. I await to hear the outcome of its deliberations.
I am aware that public reaction to the introduction of the Luas on the Tallaght to Connolly Station line has been very positive and that the people of Tallaght, as well as other commuters along the route, are eagerly awaiting the commencement of services in 2004.
