Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport when work on the Rathfarnham Luas line will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6606/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Transport 21 provides a very large funding commitment for the delivery of an extensive rail-based public transport network in the greater Dublin area in the period up to 2015. This network is based on the Dublin Transportation Office strategy, A Platform for Change.

It also includes funding for feasibility studies on those elements of A Platform for Change which are not included in Transport 21 and this includes the proposed Luas line from the city centre to Dundrum via Rathfarnham and Terenure. In this connection I announced on 30 January last that the RPA is to commence work on the Rathfarnham feasibility study in April.

It is understood from the RPA that the feasibility study will take a number of months to complete. Pending completion of the study it would be premature to speculate on a feasible construction timetable for the project. There are a number of other projects in Dublin, including two in particular, with ongoing feasibility studies.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The feasibility study is to be welcomed——

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Are we in agreement?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We are in agreement. It was somewhat miraculous that money was allocated for this project even though it was not in the plan. I wonder how many other projects are in that category.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I remind the Deputy it was in the plan.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It certainly was not in the two-page plan which the Minister published but he might have had a plan in his back pocket called the election plan.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will show the Deputy.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Allow the Deputy to speak without interruption.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does it go through the Deputy's constituency?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Mitchell, without interruption.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How did it fall off the plan, given the landscape in that area between Dundrum and Tallaght is entirely characterised by rural laneways that have been tarmacadamed over and swallowed up by suburbia which is now very densely populated? Their transport needs cannot be met by buses even if there were buses available.

I want to impress on the Minister the urgency of ensuring that this feasibility study is done because it came as a surprise both to the RPA and to the DTO and everybody else on the morning it was announced by the Minister. Is there a commitment to it? Given that there was money available for a feasibility study which we did not know about, is it possible that there is money to build it before the end of Transport 21? We cannot wait if construction is only to start on that project in 2015.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will give the Deputy a copy of what I said when I announced Transport 21. Three feasibility studies and three projects affecting Dublin were announced in Transport 21. These are the orbital route, the eastern bypass and the Rathfarnham-Terenure Luas project. That last project was included in the plan on the day I spoke at the announcement in Dublin Castle. I am glad the Deputy welcomes the project. She is correct that there is a complex road system in that area — which I know very well — in the context of the delivery of the system and deciding exactly which areas it would go through. This is the reason the feasibility study is needed. If this study comes out the right way and approves the project as being a valuable addition to public transport, then we will move to do it.

The Deputy will know that most of the Luas projects are now being co-funded with substantial investment from the private sector to cover the development costs. This will also apply if this project meets the feasibility study criteria and meets the financial criteria when it comes to route selection. I would be very optimistic that this project, if it meets all the criteria, will form part of the roll-out of Transport 21. It will not be in the first phase of Transport 21 but would come into play more towards the end of the programme. It will take some time to do all the work on it.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should not hold her breath.