Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Transport the full extent of the cost overrun on the port tunnel and the Red Cow roundabout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21515/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The construction of the Dublin Port tunnel, including contractual matters related thereto, and the upgrade of the M50 including the Red Cow interchange are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authorities concerned.

I understand from the NRA that the estimated final cost of the Dublin Port tunnel is expected to be €751 million, including price variation, against an estimated cost at tender stage of €580 million — year 2000 prices, excluding provision for price variation in line with construction inflation indices.

The increase is mainly due to the operation of the price variation clause over the period since tender receipt in 2000 to date, with a limited number of other factors, such as higher than anticipated land settlements, impacting on the updated overall project cost. Construction work on the upgrade of the M50, which include the conversion of the Red Cow interchange to a freeflow system, has not yet commenced,