Vol. 507 No. 2
17 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if CIE has clarified to her Department its concerns on the potential overall cost of the light rail project; and the position in relation to funding the overall project. [16464/99]
64 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the concern that the cost of providing the Luas service in Dublin is rising at a disturbing rate with total costs possibly as high as £1 billion if the rising costs are seriously affecting the cost and benefit dimensions of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16547/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 64 together.
CIE's main concerns related to the potential overall cost of the project and the possible implications that this might have for the funding of other CIE capital projects. I discussed this matter recently with the CIE chairman. I made it clear to him that the Government remains committed to the enhanced and expanded project approved in May 1998 and that I expect the company to devote all its efforts to the implementation of that project in accordance with the published indicative timetable.
Under the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act, 1996, CIE is given responsibility for procuring the necessary legal powers to provide a light rail system. Once it is granted those powers in a light railway order, it is then responsible for arranging construction, commissioning and operation of the authorised system.
The most detailed estimate has been prepared by the light rail project team in respect of the recently approved Tallaght to Abbey Street line. This estimate of £183 million is currently being evaluated by Halcrow-McCarthy who are consultants to the light rail monitoring committee. This work is expected to be completed shortly and will provide a firmer basis for future estimates of the cost of the full network.
It is my intention to then seek Government approval for a firm capital budget for this line and to appraise the Government of the updated overall cost estimates for the project. The cost benefit analysis will also be updated in light of the revised estimates.
