Ms Anne Graham:

We do not like being in that position. We are usually careful around announcing dates. We find it difficult to give dates for certain things because we are circumspect. However, based on our experience up to then, we were able to deliver dates around changes to fares and infrastructure. This is a significant change because it changes boundaries. It is more significant than what we have done up to now. We probably should not have indicated a date until we were more clear about what the works involved.

It is unfortunate it has happened. We do not like to be in a position where we are saying it is delayed, but we will work with the contractor and Irish Rail to try to bring that timeline down to a more reasonable one.