Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The answer to the question posed by the Deputy is that I do not know. It is not completely in my hands nor those of the RPA. There are outside agencies, such as the city council, which must be consulted, as it is doing a study on transport in the city centre area. The overall finishing date for the project is 2012, as I indicated earlier.

I do not disagree with the Deputy in that there is a need for greater co-ordination, and that is the reason one of my first actions in this Department was to ask about the DTA legislation. I have indicated my wish to have it brought to Government as a matter of urgency and I hope we will have it in the House in the early stages of the autumn session. It has been sought by all sides and I hope we will get it through the House in the autumn session if possible with the co-operation of everybody. As the Deputy has indicated, that would help expedite projects such as this.

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