Seanad debates
Wednesday, 15 October 2003
Public Transport: Motion.
Fine Gael will have no problem supporting the Labour Party motion tonight. The Luas lines in Dublin are a disgrace. A friend of mine who works in the Harcourt Street area had both entrances to his business blocked off by the construction work. It is unbelievable that people take part in works that go way over time and budget. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the original intention was that the Luas would be constructed in 100 meter sections and for the section to be dug up, work carried out and then completed? Instead we seem to have the streets dug up for miles, no timeframe and certainly no hurry on the contractors to get the work done. I cannot understand how the project went so over budget, from €300 million to almost €1 billion, with no questions being asked. Surely if contractors get a contract they should agree to undertake the work and if they go over time the costs should go to them and not the taxpayer.
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