Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

As I have said on numerous previous occasions in this House, my policy in regard to the release of cost information on the transport projects contained in Transport 21 is in the first instance to ensure the taxpayer's interest is protected.

In that context, the release or publication of commercially sensitive cost information prior to the completion of the competitive procurement processes would seriously prejudice the State's capacity to derive maximum value for money in respect of such projects. However, I am also conscious that it is in the taxpayer's interest to strike an appropriate balance between ensuring value for money and transparency in the use of taxpayers' money for transport projects.

My Department has, therefore, published cost information on completed projects and projects at a sufficiently advanced stage, where such information is no longer commercially sensitive. It has also released documents under freedom of information as referred to by the Deputy.

The RPA light rail investment strategy of 2005, referred to by the Deputy, was part of the detailed preparatory work which contributed to the final Transport 21 programme announced in November of that year. All the transport agencies and many local authorities and Departments contributed to that exercise.

Under Transport 21, one light rail project was recently completed in the docklands and two more are under construction. The line to Cherrywood in south Dublin will open for service later this year and services will start on the extension to CityWest next year. Good progress has also been made in progressing planning on projects such as metro north, metro west and the city centre Luas line. However, it must be acknowledged that it will not be possible to deliver on the original ambitious targets contained in Transport 21 in the timescale envisaged given the current difficult economic environment.

Metro north and DART underground are core projects in the strategy envisioned under Transport 21 and continue to be key projects in the revised funding environment.

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