Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Transport when the feasibility study for a proposed Luas line to Rathfarnham will be completed; and the finance arrangements that could be put in place to provide for such a development should it be approved by the Government. [12718/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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 the strategy which are not included in Transport 21, such as the proposed Luas line from the city centre to Dundrum via Rathfarnham and Terenure. On 30 January 2007, I announced that the RPA is to begin work on the Rathfarnham feasibility study in April.

As I live in Rathfarnham, I recently received Deputy Ryan's brochure in my door. I was astonished to see the lack of integrity in it. He suggested that I put out the feasibility study in response to his comments. However, my speech to launch Transport 21 included mention of the feasibility study, which was initiated more than two years before Deputy Eamon Ryan thought of it. I was surprised to discover what the Deputy included in the document he recently circulated to constituents in Rathfarnham. I live there during the week but my vote remains in my own constituency.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I take it as a compliment that the Minister reads my newsletter. Likewise, I took it as a compliment that he announced a feasibility study a week after my party announced its intention to undertake this project.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No, I announced the feasibility study a year and a half ago, at the end of 2005.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It could be described as a happy coincidence.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Word had gone out that the Minister had dropped the project.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I ask the Minister to examine my leaflet carefully. The route it proposes would be hugely successful in connecting the north and south sides of the city. I hope the next Government will be of a different hue. However, if the current Government decides to build the Rathfarnham Luas line, where will the funding come from given the €34 billion envelope set out by the Department of Finance? How will the Minister obtain the funding for a project such as this?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, the Luas extensions are largely being funded by developers in the areas in question. Significant resources are coming from the private sector and there is the possibility of public private partnerships. There are many ways of undertaking these developments. The feasibility study in respect of the proposed Luas line to Terenure and Rathfarnham through Harold's Cross is one of only three feasibility studies included in Transport 21, the others being those relating to the orbital route and the eastern bypass. I will make no decisions on this route until that study is submitted to the Department.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The route proposed by the Green Party, as set out in my constituency leaflet, envisages a connection from Dundrum through Churchtown, Nutgrove, Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold's Cross before crossing the city centre at Christ Church to link up with the old Broadstone line and continue to Finglas and beyond. Does the Minister agree this route makes sense?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is aware that the RPA is already engaged in consultations on this project. I am not prepared to endorse the route proposed by the Deputy, nor will I put forward my personal views. I am not an engineer or an expert on urban landscapes and how these projects are managed. It will be difficult to build into an older confined space that is already developed.

I detect a common thread in our discussions of late and it has been building to a crescendo among the parties opposite. It reminds me of Jimmy Saville's "Jim'll Fix It" television programme many years ago.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister certainly will not fix it.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny put forward the Jim'll Fix It solution at the weekend. There is no substance to this approach, merely appeals to trust his promises that he will fix this and that.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has not fixed much.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No policies are being put forward by the Opposition other than its promise to do something different and better. It has no policies in this area.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Fine Gael has plenty of policies.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister never lost his arrogance.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I will drop in a leaflet to the Minister.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The only policy I can identify is the Opposition's claims that it will do things better or quicker than the Government. We are not told whether this will mean ignoring the planning process and public consultation or simply politicising routes for personal political interests instead of doing what is clearly in the public interest. This is what Deputy Shortall has done in making an incredible political football out of the metro north proposals for Ballymun. She is being disingenuous to the people of Ballymun. It is appalling.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister does not know what he is talking about.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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He never did.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is the worst case of politicising an issue I have seen in a long time.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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That is what the Minister said about electronic voting.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister should speak to the RPA.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is unfortunate. However, the Government will deliver in typical fashion when the feasibility study is returned to us.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is out of the Minister's hands now.