I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 33 and 127 together.
An Bórd Pleanála adjourned the Oral Hearing into the Railway Order application for Metro North in April this year, to allow consideration of further information requested from the Railway Procurement Agency. An Bórd Pleanála subsequently wrote to the Agency requesting further additional information in respect of the application. All the additional information has now been supplied and placed on public display. An Bórd Pleanála has, as yet, set no date for the recommencement of the Oral Hearing.
Two consortia have been shortlisted as part of the PPP procurement process. The next phase of procurement must await the outcome of the planning process.
As I have stated on a number of occasions previously, Government will take the final decision on Metro North at the conclusion of the procurement process, namely financial close.
In the meantime, the Railway Procurement Agency is continuing to progress the project in accordance with the Government decision in January last year, which approved the financial framework for the PPP. As is normal practice for large Exchequer supported projects, my Department is in regular contact with the Department of Finance. Decisions on the Exchequer allocation for Metro North in 2010 will be taken as part of the Estimates process for next year currently underway.