Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has had discussions with the Railway Procurement Agency regarding the planning failure to properly link up the Dublin Docklands Luas and rail stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17471/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept that there has been a planning failure as suggested by the Deputy. Transport 21 will provide for five additional interchanges for passengers on the Maynooth and west Dublin suburban rail line to which the Deputy's question refers. These interchange points will be with metro west at Porterstown, the cross-city Luas line at Liffey Junction, metro north at Drumcondra, the Tallaght Luas line at Spencer Dock and the DART interconnector at Pearse Station.

I understand that the majority of suburban rail services from Maynooth and west Dublin actually serve Connolly Station rather than the new Docklands Station. There is already a Luas stop at Connolly, which serves passengers wishing to transfer from the Maynooth line to Luas. The Docklands Luas extension will include a stop at Spencer Dock. This will be situated approximately 350 metres from Iarnród Éireann's existing station at Docklands and close to the proposed location for a new station for the DART interconnector.

The railway order which provided planning permission for the Docklands Luas extension was granted in 2006 and established the route and stop locations on the line. Construction of the extension is already well under way and is due to be completed next year. Any change in the route would require a new railway order application, preceded by preparatory planning and design and public consultation. This would substantially delay completion of the project and significantly increase costs and it is not justified on transport planning grounds.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, Deputy Varadkar, raised this issue with the Minister separately in a parliamentary question. The point he made is that the Government could have provided a valuable terminus in the Docklands by providing a Luas stop at Docklands train station. This would have provided a direct Luas link from Docklands station to Connolly station, O'Connell Street, Heuston Station and Tallaght, but the proposed Docklands Luas stop is 350 m away from the rail station. The Minister should revisit this issue.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Luas line was subject to much consultation. I was accused of delaying it and of not meeting a target date for it — the Deputy will remember attacking me for that at one stage.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Rightly so.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The reason it did not meet its completion date was that extensive consultation took place, which moved this line further out than was originally intended. The railway order was obtained for this, which, unfortunately, moves it 350 m from Docklands station. However, there are plenty of opportunities for people to connect. The interconnector will come into this particular Luas site. It is as close as we can go. It does not impede good transport planning.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Joined-up thinking means joined-up travelling, and the Minister is not providing it at this location.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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It is important to get to Tallaght and everywhere else in the country, in particular when one is at the national conference centre. Has the Minister had discussions with the developers of the conference centre with regard to further public transport initiatives? When will we have railway orders or immediate movement on the interconnector and what is the timeframe for it?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the first part of the question, I have a map that I can use. There is plenty of opportunity for interconnection from any of these stations and from the conference centre. There will be, even from Navan, in which I take a great interest——

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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So we notice.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that there will be a proper degree of interconnection in this regard. I have not had talks with the proposed developers of Spencer Dock. I would imagine that in the context of the development of that site the developers may be interested in ensuring there are very good public transport links and transport links generally. If they want to talk to us in that context, we will be delighted to do so. If they are willing to make the finance available, I am sure we will be able to facilitate them.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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What about the interconnector?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I will not say something in the House and then be accused of being misleading. Subject to correction, in regard to the interconnector Iarnród Éireann is assembling its experts on various aspects, including the PPP. While I do not want the Deputy to hold me to this, the railway order is supposed to go in early next year.