Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 2

Priority Questions. - Light Rail Project.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

5 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to resolve the potential conflicts which may arise in the construction and operation of the Luas project where the sponsoring agency CIE has declared itself less than enthusiastic with the project; and her views on whether, under these circumstances, the construction will proceed speedily and the necessary feeder buses to Luas and other integration services will be provided by CIE. [16282/99]

Mrs. O'Rourke

CIE has assured me that, notwithstanding the reservations it expressed, it is the company's intention to press ahead with implementation of the Dublin light rail project and to ensure the project is managed professionally and proceeds at the maximum possible speed.

Those reservations related mainly to the potential overall cost of the project and the possible implications that this may have for the funding of other CIE capital projects. I discussed this matter last week with the CIE chairman.

Mr. Yates

The Minister and he had dinner together.

Mr. Stagg

The Minister had no time for dessert.

Mrs. O'Rourke

The chairman invited me to dinner. I had to return to the House for a vote at 8.30 p.m., so I spent only an hour with him. The meeting was, of necessity, brisk.

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.

Mr. Yates

Could the meeting be described as a handbagging?

Mrs. O'Rourke

No, it was very pleasant.

The Government has identified the light rail project as a pilot project for a public private partnership approach. Therein, I think, lies the difficulty. Consultations on the Arthur Andersen study are continuing. I will bring proposals to Government when I have completed those consultations and my consideration of their recommendations.

Whatever decisions are taken in relation to a PPP approach to the light rail project, I am determined it will be implemented as part of an integrated public transport strategy. The recently completed DTO blueprint for the period 2000 to 2006 makes substantial proposals in this regard, including the development of transportation nodes and interchange points, park and ride, feeder and local bus services and integrated ticketing. CIE will be fully involved in, and is committed to, the implementation of this integrated approach.

Ms O. Mitchell

Is the Minister surprised CIE is becoming less enthusiastic about this project, given that it was agreed almost ten years ago and has been the subject of reversals and delays, so that we are about to build a partial and unintegrated system? Is it any wonder CIE and the general public are losing confidence in the project and that the Minister for Finance is running scared of the unknown and unknowable costs of tunnelling in the city centre?

Does the Minister agree there is now a need for clarity? The Minister says she is bringing proposals for a public private partnership to Government. Is it not long past time for a decision to be made? The nature and extent of private participation is unknown and we cannot allow this vacuum to pertain for much longer.

Is the Minister aware private sector involvement can be successful only if the private sector partner is involved from the beginning in the planning, design and decision-making phase of the project and not merely in the construction and operational process? I know the Minister is very busy with flotations, etc., but where, when and whether we will have a fully integrated and extended Luas system are major questions for Dublin. Will it ever exist? Who will build it? Who will run it? Decisions on these issues must be made now. Will the Minister make these decisions and make them known so an end can be put to the lack of clarity and persistent rumours which are eroding public confidence on a daily basis?

Mrs. O'Rourke

Four days after I issued a document on the possibilities of public private partnership, which remain huge as there is huge private interest, I received the letter from CIE which expressed these doubts for the first time. I had said that part of the study concerned the potential for the private running of Luas for which CIE could put forward its own proposal and bid like anyone else.

Ahead of time Mr. Justice O'Leary gave me his report on 17 December. I agreed it ahead of the timetable set out and work on the line from Tallaght to Dublin City centre is beginning at the end of this year. This has been decided and is being done by public contract. It is the only line for which we have a detailed estimate. Ten days ago, again ahead of time, I received the report from Mr. Justice O'Leary and within the next week or ten days, also ahead of time, I will have given my opinion on it. This will then go ahead and work will commence next year. Each of my actions and those of the agencies have been taken ahead of the indicative timetable.

The first line, from Tallaght to Dublin City centre, was relatively untroubled as, apart from one section, the other adjustments which must be made are matters for local authorities and I think they can be easily overcome.