Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, and congratulate him on this historic day when we saw the reappearance of the tram in Dublin with the long-awaited opening of the Sandyford to city centre light rail line. I also congratulate the Department of Transport and the Rail Procurement Agency for delivering the project.

When opening the Sandyford line, the Rail Procurement Agency decided that the first five days were to be free of charge. This is a welcome encouragement for people to use this new public transport service. I ask the Minister to intervene with Luas and the Rail Procurement Agency to ensure an equality of treatment when the Tallaght line is opened in late August. Of late, some Luas officials have indicated that the free five day concession enjoyed by Sandyford line users will not be available to Tallaght line users. Under the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act, the Minister has the power to direct that such a concession is extended to the Tallaght line. The people of Tallaght, Inchicore and every other stop along this line must be allowed to have a number of free day concessions when the line is opened in late August. As the House will not be sitting then, I am raising the issue now. There is public concern in the Dublin 24 area that the same conditions that apply to the Sandyford line would also apply to the Tallaght line.

All Members encourage people to make that modal shift away from the car to public transport. However, for the past five years those living along the line have been subjected to constraints caused by its construction. They have done so in a humorous and light-hearted way and have put up with much hassle in their community for the last five years.

The concession put in place by the Minister for Transport and the RPA for the opening of the Sandyford line should also be in place for the opening of the Tallaght line as a small token of appreciation to the residents along the line who have had to endure difficulties for the past five years. I am sure that in his response the Minister will tell me what I want to hear and that when he opens the Tallaght line in late August, when, God willing, we will all be in attendance, the people of Tallaght will also be entitled to a number of free days' travel on the line. That is the intention of tabling this matter.