Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Transport when construction of the Luas line to Bray, County Wicklow, will commence; if this is being done by the State or by private investment; the area in which the line will end in Bray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35805/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 includes the completion of the Luas line from Sandyford to Cherrywood by 2010 and from Cherrywood to Bray by 2015. Subject to compliance with the relevant statutory procedures, I expect construction of the Cherrywood extension to start during 2006. On 7 November 2005, I received an application from the Railway Procurement Agency for a railway order in respect of a proposed Luas extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood. I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the application and an inspector to conduct the public inquiry has been appointed.

While the proposed extensions will not be developed as public private partnerships, I expect that the private sector will fund a significant proportion of the cost through, inter alia, levies on developers under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Pending completion of planning work, public consultation and the statutory approval process, it is not possible to be precise about the location of the terminus at Bray.