Vol. 470 No. 6
23 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the total costs involved in the proposed light rail network for the city of Dublin; the other options, if any, which have been considered; the related costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19552/96]
Over a period of almost two and a half years the Dublin Transportation Initiative carried out the most extensive ever evaluation of the transport situation in Dublin. This included consideration of a wide range of options for the improvement of the city's public transport, from an underground DART system to bus based alternatives. The details of this evaluation are set out in the DTI final report. The transport strategy recommended by the DTI has been accepted by Government as the general policy framework for the future development of the transport system in the greater Dublin area. This strategy includes the core on-street light rail network providing for lines to Ballymun, Cabinteely via the Harcourt Street line and Tallaght, at a cost of approximately £300 million. The first phase of that core light rail network involves the construction of a line from Tallaght to Dundrum at a cost of £220 million. As part of the public consultation process, the CIÉ project team examined a number of options for constructing this line and they have already published their findings.
