Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which it has been established that the Luas has replaced other modes of transport; if its current users are mainly bus, train or motorcar commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27220/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Luas on travel patterns. The "Before Luas" survey was carried out in the spring of 2004 and the "After Luas" survey will be carried out in 2005, by which time travel patterns should have become established after the introduction of the new service.

The RPA has also carried out less formal research on its customer base and it is clear that the majority of Luas users are not transfers from other modes of public transport. Apart from car transfers, there also appear to be a significant number of new trips to the city centre for business and recreation. This view is shared by city centre businesses, which report substantial increase in business as a result of Luas.