Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Transport 21 includes a Luas line connecting St. Stephen's Green with Liffey junction on the Maynooth suburban railway line. This project is being considered in two phases — one connecting the two existing Luas lines in the city centre; and the other extending the line northwards via Broadstone and Grangegorman to Liffey junction.

In November 2005, the Railway Procurement Agency began a public consultation on five potential routes, A to E, for connecting the two existing Luas lines. During public consultation a new option, F, was identified. Options A and F emerged as the better options and the RPA launched a second phase of public consultation in January this year, focusing on the selection of the best of these two route options.

I also understand the RPA engaged in dialogue with Dublin City Council, Dublin Bus and the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, on the implications of the potential routes for bus services and other road users. Arising from these discussions, Dublin City Council and the DTO recommended a traffic management plan for the city centre be initiated to facilitate light rail, bus and metro development. I understand Dublin City Council is currently undertaking the necessary traffic modelling and is committed to delivery of early results from this work.

In March this year the RPA decided that its preferred route option for the cross-city Luas line is option F. The RPA's detailed design work will take account of the results of the city council's traffic modelling exercise, the preliminary results of which are expected in the autumn. Following completion of this design work, and subject to a satisfactory outcome to the city centre traffic management planning work, the RPA will submit a railway order application to An Bord Pleanála. The construction timescale will be dependent on the outcome of the city council's work and the statutory approval process.

The selection of an emerging preferred route for the cross-city link will facilitate the advancement of work on the route selection for the onward extension to Liffey junction via Grangegorman and Broadstone. Subject to an enforceable railway order, the scheduled completion date for the overall project is 2012.

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