Vol. 498 No. 3
49 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the estimated cost of the Luas project; if her attention has been drawn to reports that the decision to put part of the system underground could cost an additional £300 million; the steps, if any, in place since the Government's decision of May 1998 to get a definitive estimate of costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26982/98]
I have received no reports which suggest that a decision to put a section of the Dublin light rail system underground could cost an additional £300 million. A firm cost estimate for the underground section will not be available until the necessary geotechnical work has been completed late in 1999.
A recent preliminary estimate by CIE for the whole of phase one — Tallaght to Connolly Station and Sandyford to Ballymun/Dublin Airport — indicated a cost of £671 million. This estimate included provision for inflation and a substantial allowance for working capital requirements, both of which would not normally be included in a capital cost estimate.
The estimate for the underground section amounted to £174 million. This was not based on new work but on figures in earlier studies by WS Atkins and Semaly. CIE acknowledge that their figures require further analysis.
The priority at present is to finalise firm budget estimates for the Tallaght to Abbey Street section, which has just completed the public inquiry phase. I expect CIE to submit detailed figures for this section shortly.
