Vol. 472 No. 5
27 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has revised his target of holding a public inquiry into the LUAS Dublin Light Rail project in the autumn and to permit construction of light rail to begin as early as possible in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23484/96]
32 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the time schedule for the starting, completion and commissioning of the light rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23435/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 32 together.
The CIÉ project team are currently engaged in an extensive public consultation programme and in the finalisation of a formal application for a light railway order for the Tallaght to Dundrum route. It is only when I have received that application that the statutory timetable set out in the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act, 1996 will come into effect.
CIÉ now expects to be in a position to submit the formal application at the end of February 1997. On this basis, I expect that a public inquiry will be held in the first half of 1997 and that the project will be able to commence construction before the end of 1997. The project will take about three years to complete.
