Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the timescale for construction of the Sandyford Luas line extension to Cherrywood, broken down into its various stages over the next few years. [36044/05]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress which has been made so far in negotiations on a public private partnership for the construction of the Sandyford Luas line extension to Cherrywood. [36045/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 100 together.

Having announced a new transport investment programme, Transport 21, on 1 November 2005, I received, on 7 November, an application from the Railway Procurement Agency for a railway order in respect of the 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.

Transport 21 includes the completion of the extension of the Luas line from Sandyford to Cherrywood by 2010. Subject to compliance with the relevant statutory procedures, I expect construction to start during 2006. While, the proposed extension will not be developed as a public private partnership, I expect the private sector will fund a significant proportion of the cost of the line through, inter alia, levies on developers under the Planning and Development Act 2000.