Denis Naughten
Question:71 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the current timescale for the opening of the Luas lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/03]
Ceisteanna – Questions (Resumed). Priority Questions. - Light Rail Project.
Construction of the Luas lines from Tallaght to Connolly Station, lines A and C, and from Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green, line B, is progressing and significant milestones for the project have already been achieved. Responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Luas project rests with the Railway Procurement Agency. I understand from the agency that the current timetable for the opening of the Luas lines is August 2004 for the Tallaght to Connolly Station lines and June 2004 for the Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green line. These dates allow for a period of up to three months for testing, commissioning and general safety checking before passenger services commence. I have conveyed my concerns to the agency about the importance of meeting these targets and have asked that all the necessary steps be taken to ensure that services commence at the earliest possible date.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he saying that the Tallaght line will be open to passengers from November 2004 and that the Sandyford line will be open to passengers from September 2004? Such dates represent a further delay in the delivery of the project. Can I put it to the Minister that it has been reported that the Office of the Director of Traffic in Dublin claims that trams will not be operational and taking passengers before 2005? Have traffic management plans for the vicinity of the city centre been prepared for when the trams become operational? There will be difficulties in the city centre area. Will the review of the park and ride facilities at Newlands Cross, the intersection with the Naas Road and the Red Cow—
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
That matter will arise in a later question. This question is about the timescale for the opening of the Luas lines. The other matters raised by the Deputy are the subject of questions put down by other Deputies.
I ask the Chair to allow me to finish my question. Will the review of the Red Cow roundabout delay the delivery of the project?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The Red Cow roundabout is the subject of Question No. 72.
I have asked a different question.
I repeat, in case there is any misunderstanding, that my reply stated that the current timescale for the opening of the Luas lines is August 2004 for the Tallaght to Connolly Station lines and June 2004 for the Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green line. These dates allow for a testing period of three months – this period is taken into account when determining the opening dates. Lest there be any confusion about what the Deputy said about other dates, I reiterate that the lines will open in June and August 2004. Dublin City Council has prepared a traffic management plan for when the Luas system is running.
Can the Minister clarify that the projects I have mentioned will not delay the opening on time of the lines on the revised dates? Will directional signs to replace those erected in Dublin last September be in place before the opening of the Luas system, to try to divert traffic from the city centre? Will the Minister allow the utilisation by passengers of sections of the Luas line which have been completed, as an interim measure?
The Deputy referred to revised dates, but the dates I mentioned today are those which have been outlined for many months. I have not given any new dates to the House today. I have received and almost finalised the new signs for Dublin which require the approval of the Department. I should be able to clear the signs shortly and they should be erected within weeks. I hope this will help the traffic situation. I cannot agree to a partial opening of the Luas lines. As the system is electrified, I think it is best to finish the construction work and to open all sections of the lines on the dates I have mentioned. I do not think it would be practical to try to manage it in a piecemeal fashion.
The Minister has already travelled on the Luas system and is aware that sections of it are operational. The chairman of the RPA, Mr. Padraic White, said in 2001 that the Luas system was progressing to schedule and within budget at that stage. We know that the budget has increased from just under €300 million to just under €800 million. Can the Minister assure the House that the project's cost will remain within the revised budget? Given that it was on time in 2001, will he explain why it has now fallen behind schedule and will not be ready until June 2004?
I have already acknowledged that it is some months behind schedule. I have been told by the RPA that the new dates of June and August 2004 are fairly firm. The estimated capital cost of completion is €691 million and there is provision for a risk figure on top of that. It is not fair to quote the earlier figure of €300 million, because substantial alteration and redesign were undertaken before final approval was given. It is important to state that the Luas pro ject is broadly within budget, if one takes into account the risk provision that was included in the construction costs. Although it is a couple of months behind schedule I am satisfied that it is progressing well, especially when one considers the factors I have mentioned such as the complexity of the work and the number of people involved. The deadlines I have outlined should be met.
Róisín Shortall
Question:72 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications of the proposed Luas crossing at the Red Cow roundabout; the reason a new bridge was not included in the original plans; the consideration which he has given to providing alternative arrangements in order to avoid severe congestion and delay; and the action he now proposes to take. [16984/03]
As the Deputy is aware, the Railway Procurement Agency is responsible for the management of the Luas project. The agency has informed me that the alignment of the tram path at the Red Cow roundabout was the subject of detailed discussions with the National Roads Authority and South Dublin County Council prior to the granting of an order to construct the Tallaght to Connolly Station line. This followed detailed consideration at the public inquiry held into the proposals put forward by the then CIE light rail project office, the work of which was subsequently taken over by the RPA.
The RPA's view is that the Luas system will have no negative impact on traffic conditions at the roundabout. Discussions on options for providing access for road vehicles to and from the Luas stop at the Red Cow park and ride and interchange facility have recently taken place between the Railway Procurement Agency, the Dublin Transportation Office, the National Roads Authority and South Dublin County Council. Such discussions were facilitated by an independent adviser appointed by my Department. I have just received the adviser's report and I am studying its recommendations with a view to reaching an early decision on the matter.
It is nonsense for the RPA to say that the Luas will not have a negative impact on the Red Cow roundabout. Does the Minister not accept that it is the busiest junction in the country which carries some 80,000 vehicles a day on the M50 and 60,000 on the N7? There is already traffic chaos at that junction. Does he not appreciate that there are delays of up to 40 minutes at evening peak time and that it is a source of much frustration for the many motorists who use the junction?
Does he not further accept that it is a recipe for disaster to add a tram to that already chaotic situation, especially one that will have to stop at three red lights in crossing that junction? Does he not accept that this will exacerbate the existing traffic problems and seriously undermine the attractiveness and the speed of Luas in terms of trying to encourage people to get out of cars and use public transport?
What does the Minister foresee will arise at that roundabout on a regular basis because of the conflict between cars on both the M50 and the N7 and the need for Luas to cross traffic at three points in each direction?
When the members of the Joint Committee on Transport recently asked Padraic White about this, he replied that the Minister was investigating the matter. It is difficult to understand why the RPA did not deal with this adequately in the original plans for the Luas.
What steps is the Minister taking? Is it the case that there should have been a dedicated and extended bridge provided for that crossing? Why was it not provided and what steps does the Minister intend taking to avoid the likely chaos that is going to result at that junction?
I accept that it would have been better if this project had been designed differently. That is the view which I expressed to the Railway Procurement Agency, the Dublin Transportation Office, the National Roads Authority and South Dublin County Council. However, these decisions were taken some years ago. There was also a public inquiry which signed off on it. There was quite an extensive deliberation process.
An enormous number of experts from the agencies I mentioned take the view that the Luas will move thousands of cars from the area. They make the point that the tram path does not run through the roundabout. It crosses the slip roads but not the roundabout proper. They point out that the trams will cross the M50 on a new Luas bridge which, obviously, does not cross the M50.
I have spoken about the slip lanes. There is a new slip lane in place in one direction. I have also been told that it will not require the introduction of additional traffic lights, that the gap in the existing traffic lights will be adequate to allow the train through only when road traffic on these slip lanes is stopped. The design of the alignment also allows for trams to stop completely clear of the road traffic lanes. As I said, these provisions went through a public inquiry and were decided many years ago. One is now at the stage of looking at what options are available.
The Deputy raised a sensible question in regard to park and ride. I went to look at it on two occasions in recent weeks. It is intended that the park and ride facility will hold 750 cars. I accept that it is difficult to access it from the Naas Road. If one is coming up from Naas one has to go around the roundabout and back up to get into the park and ride area.
It has been proposed that a special overpass bridge be built so that one could turn left off the Naas Road, go up through Monastery Road out onto a new road and down into the park and ride facility. The estimated cost of this project is €20 million at today's prices. It would take two years to build so one can add a few bob to that by the time it would be completed. The issue is whether one can justify sanctioning a €20 million or €30 million project for 750 cars. Would that be a proper use of public funds?
I appointed a planning expert to investigate the matter over a three or four week period and he has now given me his report. The report suggests that we do not proceed with the overpass. As I am still studying the report I have not yet made a decision in regard to it. The bottom line is that it does not recommend that it would provide value for money to make provision for 750 cars in the context of the 80,000 cars that pass through there every day. I will make a decision shortly and keep an eye on the issue.
Rightly or wrongly, dozens of experts spread throughout the RPA, the NRA, the Dublin Transportation Office and the engineers of South Dublin County Council came to these conclusions.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
We move on to Question No. 73. As Deputy Crowe is not in attendance in the House—
On a point of order, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. What rules are we following in respect of speaking times for Priority Questions?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
A total of six minutes are allowed. On Priority Questions the initial reply of the Minister is limited to two minutes and there is a total of four minutes for supplementaries.
Is one not entitled to a second round of supplementaries?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
Not if the allocated time has elapsed. In fact, I allowed seven minutes to deal with the previous question. Question No. 73 falls, due to the non-attendance in the Chamber of Deputy Crowe. Question No. 74.
Did the Leas-Cheann Comhairle make a comment on Question No. 73?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The Deputy who tabled the question is not in attendance and as it is a Priority Question it cannot be taken.
I see. I should know that.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
Question No. 74.