Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the recent release through a freedom of information request of costings for major public transport projects, including the Railway Procurement Agency's light rail investment strategy 2004-14; the position regarding this strategy with 13 new Luas lines for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6412/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Many people were glad to see the beginning of the outline tendering process for DART underground starting today. Has the 2004-14 light rail investment strategy been totally shelved by the Government? While I accept the point the Minister made about commercial costings, could there not be a general report to the Dáil on indicative costings in regard to major transport projects?

In regard to Luas, what is happening to line D and Broadstone? At what stage is that? At what stage is the Lucan Luas, a major project the Railway Procurement Agency is progressing?

The Minister referred to DART underground and metro north. What is the current status of the two final bids for metro from the Celtic Metro Group and Metro Express? I do not expect the Minister to give me costings or prices but a general timeframe. When will we know whether the Celtic Metro Group or Metro Express has won the contract?

We have been getting ready for the big dig at College Green. Has the Minister had any meetings recently with the Dublin city manager, John Tierney, and the other stakeholders in order to progress this?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to all the projects in Transport 21 which have started their processes, I have indicated on a number of occasions that I will bring them from planning and design to tender stage. As I outlined previously, all of them are continuing along that path. We will then make decisions in regard to provision of the money. Obviously, metro and the DART interconnector will take up a huge amount of the public transport budget over the next number of years given the current financial circumstances.

It was announced some time ago that line D will be post the work on the metro, although some of the work involved in that will be included when the metro work is being done.

On the procedure for the tenders, a railway order must be obtained for metro in order that people know the final routes and the costings and so on can be finalised. We will know which of the two tenderers were successful for some months after that.

I stand corrected but I believe the last meeting I had on arrangements for the big dig, as the Deputy referred to it, was approximately one week or ten days before Christmas.