John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Transport the supervision role of his Department in the Luas project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10995/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Railway Procurement Agency which is under the auspices of my Department is responsible for the delivery of the Luas project. The agency has confirmed that it complies with the requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, including conformity with the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the public sector.

A light rail monitoring committee is in place and comprises representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance and the Railway Procurement Agency. Independent technical experts, who report to the Department on a monthly basis, assist the light rail monitoring committee. The RPA also reports on programme and budgetary issues to my Department on a monthly basis.

As regards the supervision of safety, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 58 of today. Luas passenger services will commence on the Tallaght line at the end of August 2004 and on the Sandyford line at the end of June 2004. The RPA has informed me that the project is within the €691 million budget and €84 million risk provision as notified to the Government in 2002.