Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
110 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the Luas will be extended from Sandyford to Cherrywood; if so when a decision will be made in this regard; the length of time it will take to have such a service introduced; and the cost of construction. [20545/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra113 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the Luas red line will be extended to Lucan; if so, when a decision will be made in this regard; the length of time it will take to have such a service introduced; and the likely construction cost of such a project. [20552/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 113 together.
I understand from the Railway Procurement Agency that the agency, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Rathdown Light Rail Limited are engaged in discussions on a 7 km light rail extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood.
The RPA has indicated to me that, subject to agreement between the agency, DLRCC and RLRL, it would submit a business plan for the project to my Department, including a cost benefit analysis. I await such a plan and, if approved, it would be followed by a formal application to me for a railway order that would trigger the statutory procedures, including a public inquiry, provided for in the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. In the absence of a business plan it would be premature to comment on the costings of such an extension. It is also premature to speculate on a completion date for the extension.
The Dublin Transportation Office strategy, A Platform for Change, provides for a Luas line to Lucan. The RPA, as part of its forward planning, has reviewed possible alignments, approaches to implementation and projected patronage. It also asked the local authority to make provision for such a line in its county development plan. I understand from the RPA that the planning of the line is not sufficiently advanced to provide either an estimate of cost or a timescale for implementation.
